THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINIANA 

ENDOWED  BY 

JOHN  SPRUNT  HILL 

CLASS  OF  1889 


C813 
V26ls 


This  book  must  not 
be  token  from  the 
Library  building. 


Form  No.  4J1 


THE 


Shadow  of  Hampton  Mead. 


By 
MKS.  ELIZABETH  VAN  LOOE 

Author  of  "A  Heart  Twice  Won.'* 


"The  Shadorv  of  Hampton  Mead"  is  the  story  of  three  fatnilies,  two  of  which  are 
American,  and  the  vary  ittg fortunes  of  each  and  all  of  these  are  related  with  a  force 
and  freshness  which  tnay  startle,  but  must  please.  Hampton  Mead,  a.  plantation  in 
North  Carolina,  is  described  with  a  great  deal  of  personal  liking  and  pride ,  its  prin- 
cipal features  being  placed  before  the  reader  with  a  painter's  skill  and  a  poet' s  feel- 
ing. The  story  opens  in  this  country,  and  when  well  developed,  is  transferred  to 
England,  where,  in  full  contrast,  life-passages  and  love-passages  arc  presented — not 
in  London  alone,  but  in  an  EarV s  palatial  hotne  in  Lancashire,  and  in  an  ocean- 
washed  castle  on  the  rocky  coast  of  Cornivall.  There  is  infinite  variety  in  the  plot 
as  well  as  in  the  characters,  and  the  wind-up  of  this  romantic  tale,  in  which  the 
"  wrong  is  made  right,"  dispenses  poetical  justice  to  all,  with  retributive  punishment 
to  the  wrong-doers. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
T.   B.   PETERSON  &  BROTHERS; 
306    CHESTNUT    STREET 


copyright: 

1878. 


070 


GEN,    WADE    HAMPTOIf, 


OF 


SOUTH    CAROLINA, 


RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATE  THIS  BOOK, 

THE 

THE  AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGB 

I.   THE  MOUNTAIN  HOME 23 

II.  LAWRENCE  HASTINGS 30 

III.  THE  WOOD  NYMPH 36 

IV.  A  FATHER'S  DARLING 43 

V.   WALTER'S  LOVE - 49 

VI.  BROTHER  AND  SISTER 67 

VII.  A  DARK  BEAUTY 65 

VIII.   THE  LOST   FOUND 70 

IX.   UNDER  THE  WAVES 75 

X.   THE  FIRST    SHADOW 82 

XI.   WHAT  IS    THIS   I  HEAR  ? 90 

XII.  WALTER  IS  TRACKED 104 

Xin.   A  DARKER  SHADOW 113 

XIV.   THE   WILL 122 

XV.  LADY   HESTER 132 

XVI.   LOST    AGAIN 140 

XVII.   THE  MEAD  IS  DESERTED 147 

X VIIL  IN  LONDON 153 

XIX.   THE  MASK  FALLS 159 

XX.   I   WILL  WAIT 167 

XXI.   BAD  NEWS 173 

XXTT.   CASTLE  ROOK 180 

(21) 


22  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTKtt  PAOE 

XXIII.  LIND    HUKST '. 189 

XXIV.  TRAPPED 197 

XXV.   HE  MUST  BE   TAKEN 209 

XXVI.  amy's  courage 214 

XXVII.   LADY   HESTER  IS  FOLLOWED 222 

XXVIII.  IS  THERE  NO  HOPE  ? 233 

XXIX.   WHAT  MAMMY   SILVIA  KNEW 241 

XXX.   THE  HALF-BREED'S  REVENGE 251 

XXXI.   FATHER   AND  DAUGHTER 260 

XXXII.  HOMEWARD  BOUND 268 

XXXIII.   THE  SHADOW  IS  GONE 277 


THE 


Shadow  of  Hampton  Mead. 

BY   THE  AUTHOR  OF 

«A  HEAKT  TWICE  WON." 


^' 


CHAPTEE    I. 

THE    MOUNTAIN    HOME. 

A  LOVELY  May  morning  in  the  mountainous 
regions  of  North  Carolina.  How  grand, 
how  beautiful!  a  picture  worthy  of  an  artist's 
pencil  or  a  poet's  dream  !  The  majestic,  towering 
mountains  clothed  in  all  their  royal  splendor. 
Ah!  how  grand  was  the  scene! 

How  strange  it  is  that  people  will  leave 
unexplored  the  beautiful  scenery  of  our  beloved 
America,  and  brave  the  perils  of  the  ocean,  to 
wander  through  the  old  world,  in  quest  of  the 
beauties  of  nature,  leaving  behind  them  some  of 

(23) 


24  THE    MOUNTAIN    HOME. 

the  grandest  scenery  in  the  universe,  only  to 
return  at  length  weary  and  dissatisfied.  They 
have  visited  the  old  ruins  of  England,  Ireland, 
and  Scotland ;  they  have  beheld  the  day-god  as 
he  vanished  from  sight,  kissing  with  his  rosy  lips 
the  far-famed  Bay  of  Naples,  flecking  its  bosom 
with  tints  of  gold  and  azure ;  they  have  stood 
upon  the  shores  of  Lake  Como,  have  seen  the 
Alps,  Vesuvius  belching  forth  her  streams  of  lava 
and  fire,  and  the  richly  cultivated  shores  of 
the  Rhine,  little  dreaming  of  what  they  have 
missed  in  their  own  land  by  never  having  seen 
the  grand  and  glorious  scenery  of  the  south- 
western portion  of  North  Carolina. 

'Tis  true  the  traveller  finds  much  to  interest 
him  in  art,  in  making  the  tour  of  the  old  world, 
but  tell  us  where  he  will  find,  where  the  Creator 
has  bestowed  so  much  beauty  in  one  small 
compass,  as  was  visible  to  the  beholder  looking 
upon  Hampton  Mead,  where  the  scene  of  our 
story  opens. 

Hampton  Mead  was  built  in  the  year  1790,  by 


THE     MOUNTAIN    HOME.  25 

a  wealthy  young  Englishman,  bearing  the  name 
of  Hampton.  He  was  the  last  of  his  race,  and 
believed  in  a  free  government.  In  1789  he  landed 
in  Norfolk,  Virginia,  with  vast  wealth,  and 
immediately  set  about  seeking  for  a  locality  in 
which  to  build  himself  a  home.  With  a  faithful 
servant  he  set  out  on  horseback  to  explore  the 
mountainous  regions  of  Virginia,  Tennessee,  and 
North  Carolina.  One  afternoon,  after  a  hard 
morning's  ride,  Mr.  Hampton  and  his  servant 
halted  on  the  banks  of  a  clear  mountain  river. 
On  each  side,  for  half  a  mile,  the  ground  gradually 
sloped  from  the  base  of  the  mountain  to  the 
water's  edge,  which  was  as  clear  as  crystal.  Mr. 
Hampton  could  see  fish  sporting  in  and  out  from 
between  the  rocks.  After  having  gazed  for  some 
time  into  its  clear,  limpid  depths  and  watched 
their  meanderings,  he  suddenly  raised  his  head 
and  cast  his  eyes  over  the  beautiful  landscape 
which  lay  stretched  out  before  him,  and  they 
kindled  with  rapt  delight:  then  turning  to  his 
servant,  said : 


26  THE     MOUNTAIN    HOME. 

"WilkeSj  we  will  go  no  further;  here  I  will 
pitch  my  tent." 

In  the  course  of  a  few  days,  he  was  the  pos- 
sessor of  several  thousand  acres  of  land.  Ere 
many  weeks  had  passed,  he  had  several  men  at 
work  getting  out  stone  with  which  to  build  the 
Mead,  as  he  proposed  calling  it.  This  was  in 
1789,  and  in  one  year's  time  the  building  was 
completed.  Mr.  Hampton  was  twenty-eight  years 
of  age  at  this  time,  and  for  the  first  time  in  his  life 
thought  he  would  like  to  have  a  wife.  A  year 
later,  in  Wilmington,  he  found  one  of  rare  beauty 
and  culture,  and  transplanted  her  to  his  new 
home.  But  his  wedded  bliss  was  of  short  duration, 
for  she  only  lived  long  enough  to  give  him  two 
children,  AY  alter  and  Norva,  and  then  passed 
away  like  a  beautiful  dream. 

Her  sweet  memory  was  buried  deep  in  the 
heart  of  her  devoted  husband;  'twas  the  shrine  at 
which  he  worshipped,  so  much  so,  that  he  never 
found  another  to  occupy  her  place,  and  he  dedi- 
cated his  life  to  his  children  and  his  home. 


THE     MOUNTAIN     HOME.  27 

When  Walter  and  Norva  were  twelve  and  ten 
years  of  age,  he  took  them  to  Philadelphia,  and 
placed  them  at  school,  where  they  remained  for 
eight  years ;  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  Mr. 
Hampton  sailed  with  them  for  Europe.  They 
were  absent  nearly  two  years,  and  when  they 
returned  to  the  Mead,  Walter  Hampton  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  Norva  nineteen. 

Walter  was  as  noble  a  specimen  of  manhood  as 
you  could  wish  to  see  :  tall,  broad-shouldered,  deep- 
chested,  and  well-developed — with  keen,  sj)arkling 
blue  eyes  and  a  profusion  of  sunny  brown  hair. 
His  sister  was  just  his  opposite  in  complexion. 
She  was  above  the  medium  height,  and  as  graceful 
as  a  fawn ;  with  masses  of  blue-black  hair  crown- 
ing her  classic  head,  and  pure  white  brow  with 
its  delicately  penciled  eyebrows  of  inky  blackness, 
beneath  which  a  pair  of  soft,  tender,  black  eyes 
shone  out,  fringed  with  long,  jetty  lashes,  which 
swept  her  dark  and  beautiful  cheeks  like  pensive 
shadows.  Mr.  Hampton  almost  worshipped  his 
daughter,  for  whenever  he  looked  upon  her  beau- 


28  THE     MOUNTAIN     HOME. 

tiful  face  he  saw  the  image  of  his  lost  wife,  who 
had  passed  away  so  soon.  Never  was  a  daughter 
more  fond  of  a  father  than  Norva  Hampton. 
Walter  was  also  very  much  attached  to  his  father. 
With  his  son,  Mr.  Hampton  was  gently  firm  in 
any  course  he  marked  out  for  him;  and  in  the  end 
Walter  usually  gave  in.  There  was  a  time  coming 
when  Mr.  Hampton  would  find  that  Walter  had 
inherited  all  his  father's  decision  of  character  and 
strength  of  purpose.  On  their  way  from  Europe 
Walter  had  asked  his  father  to  allow  him  to 
remain  in  New  York,  or  some  other  city,  for  a 
time ;  but  Mr.  Hampton  did  not  wish  to  return  to 
the  Mead  leaving  his  son  behind. 

Now  we  find  them  at  the  Mead,  anticipating 
the  arrival  of  a  guest,  Mr.  Lawrence  Hastings, 
from  London,  who  had  met  Norva  the  vear 
before  while  in  that  great  metropolis;  and  the 
soft  warm  tints  of  the  blush  rose  come  and  sro 
on  the  dark  olive  cheeks  of  the  beautiful  girl 
when  she  thinks  of  the  expected  result  of  this 
visit.     When  the  Christmas  holidays  shall  come, 


THE     MOUNTAIN     HOME.  29 

she  will  be  Lawrence  Hastings'  wife ;  but  she  is 
not  to  leave  her  father  and  her  brother.  Walter 
and  Norva  were  very  strongly  attached  to  each 
other  (something  quite  rare  in  those  degenerate 
days),  and  when  he  suffered  himself  to  think  of 
her  approaching  marriage  a  shudder  passed  over 
him.  But  she  seemed  to  be  so  supremely  happy, 
as  also  her  father,  that  he  said  but  little  on  the 
subject  after  he  had  once  fully  expressed  himself; 
and,  on  this  evening,  when  Mr.  Hastings  is 
expected  to  put  in  an  appearance  at  the  Mead,  his 
fine,  noble  features  are  contracted  as  with  pain. 
He  does  not  like  his  prospective  brother-in-law, 
and  feels  that  a  shadow  will  rest  like  a  dark  pall 
over  Hampton  Mead  when  once  Mr.  Hastings 
enters  its  walls. 


30  LAWRENCE     HASTINGS. 


CHAPTER  11. 

LAWRENCE     HASTINGS. 

PEACEFULLY  flowed  the  waters  of  the  moun- 
tain river;  and  the  richly-tinted  forest 
leaves  glowed  in  the  dying  rays  of  the  sun. 

How  grand  and  imposing  Hampton  Mead  looked, 
with  the  majestic  mountains  for  a  background, 
and  all  nature  bathed  in  the  brilliant  hazy  light 
of  the  autumn  sun,  which  was  fast  declining,  and 
as  it  sank  to  rest,  gilding  the  mountain  tops  with 
the  halo  of  a  dying  day — a  day  that  was  about  to 
step  from  time  into  eternity. 

As  we  have  remarked  before,  the  house  was 
built  of  stone ;  the  building  was  two  stories  in 
height,  with  a  wide  hall  running  through  its 
length,  above  and  below.  The  rooms  were  large, 
high,  and  airy.  AYe  care  not  so  much  to  describe 
an  old  house,  as  we  do  the  well-kept  grounds, 
although    old    houses    usually    have    a    strange 


LAWRENCE     HASTINGS.  31 

fascination  about  them  to  the  lovers  of  antiquity, 
that  the  most  elegant  modern  palace  does  not 
possess. 

The  Mead  stood  in  the  centre  of  a  large  park  or 
lawn,  dotted  with  ffia'antic  oak,  beech  and  chestnut 
trees.  These  kings  of  the  forest  had  been  topped 
and  trimmed  until  they  were  nearly  of  one  height; 
and  viewing;  them  from  the  side  of  the  mountain 
had  the  appearance  of  a  beautiful  green  plain. 

The  under  branches  were  trimmed  to  a  con- 
siderable distance,  giving  a  chance  for  small 
growths,  such  as  evergreens  of  almost  every 
description  and  variety,  and  rare  flowering  shrubs. 
The  sward  was  smooth  as  a  floor,  and  looked  like 
a  vast  emerald  sea  clothed  in  their  beautiful 
verdure.  To  the  left  of  the  house,  some  two 
hundred  yards,  w^as  a  beautiful  artificial  lake, 
from  whose  silver  bosom  rose  several  little  islands 
thickly  'planted  with  evergreens  and  flowers. 
Upon  its  cool  and  placid  waters  pleasure-boats 
were  rocking  to  and  fro,  gently  swayed  by  the 
soft  breeze.     This  lake  was  fed  by  means  of  pipes, 


32  LAWRENCE     HASTINGS. 

leading  from  a  cold  welling  spring  from  out  the 
mountain  side;  and  by  the  same  means  the 
beautiful  fountains  threw  up  their  silver  sprays 
far  into  the  air,  shooting  forth  their  splendor  as 
they  fell  into  the  great  basins  hewn  from  the 
veined  marble  which  was  found  in  abundance 
near  by.  The  grounds  were  most  artistically  laid 
out  in  wide  drives,  and  spacious  walks  covered 
with  gravel  almost  as  white  as  snow,  and  bordered 
with  different  kinds  of  small  shrubs ;  interspersed 
irregularly  were  many  handsome  pieces  of  rare 
and  costly  statuary,  and  also  several  summer- 
houses,  which  added  greatly  to  the  effect.  All 
this  had  cost  Mr.  Hampton  not  only  a  large 
amount  of  money,  but  a  great  deal  of  time, 
patience  and  labor. 

Just  as  the  last  rays  of  the  sun  were  smiling  a 
farewell  to  the  day,  kissing  the  mountain  tops, 
softly  gilding  the  tree-tops  and  casting  golden 
shadows  on  the  clear  waters  as  if  loth  to  sink  to 
rest  until  another  day,  a  large  travelling  carriage 
entered  the  avenue  and  rolled  slowly  along  the 


LAWRENCE     HASTINGS.  33 

wide  drive,  up  to  tlie  front  entrance  of  the  man- 
sion. The  bhack  coachman  alighted  and  opened 
the  carriage  door ;  and  a  young  man  of  five  and 
twenty  summers  stepped  from  the  carriage. 

He  was  tall  and  well-proportioned,  with  auburn 
hair,  and  beard  almost  red,  light  blue  eyes,  and  a 
clear,  healthy  complexion.  The  stern,  even  cruel 
expression  of  the  mouth  was  hidden  by  a  heavy 
moustache.  As  he  raised  his  eyes  to  the 
entrance  he  beheld  Norva  Hampton,  whose  black 
eyes  and  crimsoned  cheeks  spoke  a  happy  and 
cordial  welcome  to  the  traveller.  The  young 
man  sprang  nimbly  up  the  marble  steps,  and 
attempted  to  take  Norva  in  his  arms;  but  she 
drew  back,  and  said,  while  she  held  o^ut  her 
fair,  jewelled  hand  : 

"Mr.  Hastings,  I  am  most  happy  to  welcome 
you  to  America,  and  to  my  mountain  home." 

"  Many  thanks,  my  lovely  queen,"  said  Law- 
rence Hastings,  bending  gracefully  and  kissing  the 
delicate  hand  of  his  betrothed  wife. 

He  had  never  dared  to  venture  to  press  her 
2 


34  LAWRENCE     HASTINGS. 

lips.  She  loved  him  with  all  the  strength  and 
fervor  of  her  pure,  sweet  soul ;  but  could  allow  no 
man  to  take  the  liberty  of  pressing  his  lips  to 
hers,  save  her  father  and  brother. 

At  this  moment  both  made  their  appearance. 
Mr.  Hampton  expressed  his  pleasure  at  seeing  his 
guest,  and  bade  him  a  hearty  welcome;  Avhile 
Walter  bowed  coldly,  and  said : 

"  He  hoped  Mr.  Hastings  had  had  a  pleasant 
journey." 

Their  eyes  met.  Those  of  Hastings  emitted 
gleams  of  triumph ;  and  the  reddish  blonde- 
moustached  lip  was  wreathed  with  a  defiant 
smile.  Not  a  muscle  of  Walter's  face  gave  token 
of  his  feelings.  It  still  wore  that  cold,  stern 
expression,  and  the  dark  blue  eyes  looked  almost 
black.  Norva  and  her  father  could  not  help 
noticing  this  coldness  on  the  part  of  Walter,  and 
this  was  the  only  shadow  in  the  sky  of  Norva's 
happiness.  She  could  not  understand  why  it  was 
that  her  brother  treated  her  lover  with  such  cold 
and  utter  indiiference.      He  belonged  to  a  good 


LAWRENCE     HASTINGS.  35 

family,  was  well  educated,  was  fascinating  in  his 
manners,  and  exceedingly  handsome.  What  more 
could  Walter  desire  in  his  sister's  husband? 
Norva  consoled  herself  by  thinking  it  was  one  of 
those  unaccountable  prejudices  that  often  arise  in 
the  mind,  and  would  wear  away  after  they  had 
become  better  acquainted.  Could  Norva  Hampton 
have  read  Lawrence  Hastings'  character  as  did  her 
brother,  her  fond  and  trusting  heart  would  have 
grown  faint  with  disappointment  and  died  within 
her.  She  did  not;  and  when  she  again  looked 
into  the  eyes,  that  such  a  short  time  ago  had 
gazed  into  her  brother's  with  so  much  defiance, 
she  was  fascinated  with  their  strange  and  beau- 
tiful, but  powerful  expression. 


36  THETTOODNYMPH. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE     TTOOD     NYMPH. 

IT  is  not  our  intention  to  give  an  analysis  of 
Mr.  Hastings'  character  at  present,  but  let 
the  following  pages  reveal  the  leading  traits  of  a 
low,  cunning  nature.  After  he  had  been  at  the 
Mead  for  a  few  days,  he  and  Walter  took  their 
fowling-pieces  and  went  upon  the  mountains  for  a 
hunt.  Deer  were  very  plentiful  in  those  days, 
and  both  of  the  young  men  were  fond  of  the  sport. 
Distant  from  the  Mead  some  two  miles,  on  the 
side  of  the  mountain,  stood  an  old  log-cabin. 
It  was  erected  by  a  trapper  when  Walter  was 
a  child.  During  Walter's  stay  in  Philadelphia 
the  trapper  had  died,  and  the  cabin  had  had  no 
other  tenant  since,  until  two  weeks  before  the 
arrival  of  Hastings.  Walter  had  heard-  the 
negroes  talking  of  a  half-breed  Cherokee  Indian 
woman,  named  Hester  Spots  wood,  and  her  grand- 


THE     WOOD     NYMPH.  37 

child,  having  taken  possession  of  the  cabin ;  but 
he  had  never  seen  them.  So  on  this  day  he  made 
up  his  mind  to  go  by  the  cabin,  and  get  a  glimpse, 
if  possible,  of  their  new  neighbors. 

As  he  and  his  companion  drew  near  the  cabin 
their  attention  was  attracted  to  a  strange,  beauti- 
ful sight.  About  fifty  yards  from  the  cabin  was 
a  clear  spring,  bubbling  out  from  between  two 
large  rocks  :  this  water,  so  cool,  pure  and  refresh- 
ing, went  dancing  down  the  mountain  side,  and 
over  the  rocks  in  merry,  rippling  cascades,  and 
met  and  joined  the  clear  waters  of  the  river  a 
mile  below.  Seated  on  a  rock,  so  she  could  look 
down  into  the  water  at  her  feet,  sat  a  young  girl 
of  fifteen  summers.  She  was  bare-headed,  and 
clothed  in  coarse,  but  neat,  attire ;  a  wreath,  artis- 
tically arranged,  of  richly-tinted  autumn  leaves, 
rested  on  her  golden  hair,  which  fell  in  beautiful 
long  curls  over  her  neck  and  shoulders.  .  She  was 
gazing  in  the  water  at  the  reflection  of  her  own 
beautiful  face,  and  after  a  time  broke  into  a  soft, 
silvery  laugh.     The    notes  were  so  soft,  thrillin 


(T 

o 


38  THEWOODNYMPII. 

and  sweet,  it  reminded  the  two  young  men,  who 
stood  looking  at  her,  and  listening  to  her,  of  sweet- 
voiced  music,  which  out-rivalled  in  its  purity  the 
grand  carillon  of  bells  in  the  Tower  of  Les  Halles, 
at  Bruges.  Soon  she  raised  her  eyes  from  the 
water,  and  the  young  gentlemen  had  a  good  view 
of  the  delicate  contour  of  her  fair,  sweet  face. 
Almost  the  instant  she  raised  her  head  she  en- 
countered the  gaze  of  the  young  men,  and  started 
violently,  and  a  painful  blush  suffused  her  face  as 
she  cast  a  downward  glance  at  her  small,  bare  feet. 

"  Egad !  Hampton,  is  this  the  kind  of  game 
you  are  in  quest  of?  If  so,  I  admire  your  taste. 
Come,  let  us  go  and  steal  a  kiss  from  those  scarlet 
lips,"  said  Hastings. 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  in- 
sulting ladies,"  said  Walter,  coldly.  "  But  I  wall 
go  forward  and  speak  with  this  young  lady,  and 
introduce  myself  as  her  neighbor,"  and  stepping 
forward,  without  another  word  to  his  companion, 
he  paused  a  few  feet  from  the  young  girl,  and,  lift- 
ing his  hunting-cap  with  as  much  easy  grace  and 


THE     WOOD     NYMPH.  39 

respect  as  if  he  had  been  addressing  a  princess, 
said,  "  I  am  Mr.  Walter  Hampton,  of  Hampton 
Mead.  Pray,  tell  me,  young  lady,  whom  I  have 
the  honor  of  addressins:  ?  " 

The  bare-footed  girl  lifted  her  meek  but  expres- 
sive  eyes  to  the  gentleman's  face,  and  said,  ''  I  am 
Amy  Le  Clare,  and  yonder  is  my  home,"  and  she 
pointed  with  her  fair,  tapering  finger  to  the  old 
log-cabin  of  the  hunter,  which  Walter  remembered 
so  well. 

By  this  time  Lawrence  Hastings  had  come  up  to 
the  spring,  and  stood  gazing  at  the  radiant  face 
of  Amy  Le  Clare.  Walter  turned  suddenly  around 
and  watched  his  companion's  face.  It  was  flushed 
with  anticipated  pleasure.  He  felt  he  had  come 
unexpectedly  on  this  rare  vision  of  rustic  beauty, 
and  he  felt  himself  privileged  to  take  undue  liber- 
ties with  her ;  and  even  with  Walter's  eyes  fixed 
upon  him,  his  nature  was  so  debased  that  he  could 
not  resist  the  temptation  of  saying,  "  Lovely 
nymph  of  the  forest,  where  did  3'ou  spring  from? 
One  kiss  from  those  tempting  lips  before  you  go." 


40  THE     WOOD     NYMPH. 

It  needed  but  one  glance  to  tell  Amy  Le  Clare 
that  he  could  not  be  trusted,  and  she  sprang  to 
Walter's  side  for  protection,  exclaiming,  "  Oh,  Mr. 
Hampton,  please  do  not  let  him  touch  me  ! " 

Walter  held  out  his  hand,  and  said,  "  Have  no 
fear,  Miss  Le  Clare.  Mr.  Hastings  is  my  father's 
guest,  and  the  intended  husband  of  my  sister. 
He  shall  do  you  no  harm,"  and  as  he  spoke,  Wal- 
ter's eyes  flashed  scornfully  at  Hastings. 

This  had  the  desired  effect  of  somewhat  coolimz: 
Mr.  Hastings'  ardor;  then,  remembering  himself, 
he  lifted  his  cap  politely,  and  said,  "  Fair  lady, 
excuse  me;  I  mean  no  harm  to  you." 

This  simple,  untaught  maiden  of  the  mountains 
bowed,  and  said,  in  the  sweetest  accents,  "  Sir,  if 
you  are  Mr.  Hampton's  guest,  of  course  you  could 
mean  no  harm  to  a  little  girl  like  me,"  and  she 
looked  up  into  Walter's  face  as  though  she  wished 
him  to  stand  between  her  and  his  companion,  for 
whom  she  had  conceived  a  strong  dislike.  She 
was  wholly  inexperienced,  this  fair  lily,  but  she 
read,  as  if  by  intuition,  the  strange  light  that  shone 


THE     WOOD     NYMPH.  41 

from  Hastings'  eyes  as  he  took  in  all  her  girlish 
charms,  and  she  felt  that  he  was  a  dangerous  man 
to  encounter. 

Walter  observed  that  a  sudden  tremor  passed 
over  her  frail  form,  and  said,  "  Miss  Le  Clare,  I 
will  see  you  safely  home  if  you  will  permit  me  to 
do  so,  and  I  hope  you  will  pardon  our  intrusion, 
for,  I  assure  vou,  I  did  not  dream  that  I  should 
encounter  you  so  abruptly  when  I  led  my  com- 
panion by  the  path  that  leads  to  your  home,  and 
I  now  feel  as  if  I  must  somehow  make  amends." 

Amy  lifted  her  eyes  to  his  face,  and  he  felt  a 
strange,  sweet  thrill  of  emotion  pervade  his  being ; 
for,  while  staiiding  there,  he  had  had  time  to  study 
every  gracefi^l  motion  and  feature  of  this  young 
girl.  Never  before  had  his  eyes  rested  on  so  fair 
a  picture.  She  was  of  medium  height,  with  a  form 
in  perfect  harmony  with  the  sweet  expression  of 
her  face.  The  head  was  well  shaped,  and  crowned 
with  a  wealth  of  solden  hair,  combed  back  from 
her  fair,  young  brow.  The  eyes  were  large,  soft, 
and  expressive,  with  long  lashes,  and  delicately- 


42  THE     WOOD     NYMPII. 

penciled  brows.  The  face  was  oval  in  shape ;  the 
nose  slightly  aquiline ;  the  mouth  was  perfect,  re- 
minding one  of  a  sweet  rose-bud,  and  as  she  smiled 
the  scarlet  lips  parted,  half  displaying  the  small, 
pearly  teeth  that  gleamed  between  them.  Walter, 
towering  above  her,  looked  down  into  that  strange 
and  beautiful  face,  and  his  fate  was  sealed. 

Without  so  much  as  addressing  a  word  to  Hast- 
ings, he  started  in  the  direction  of  Amy's  abode.  As 
he  w\andered  out  to  the  old  cabin  he  was  astonished 
at  the  purity  and  sweetness  of  Amy's  language ; 
though  her  garb  was  so  plain  and  humble,  she  con- 
versed with  easy  grace  and  natural  eloquence. 
She  had  read  Shakespeare,  Moore,  Scott,  and  all 
the  leading  poets.  She  seemed  to  be  conversant 
with  history,  geography  and  science.  Walter  was 
interested.  He  felt  that  the  trapper's  old  cabin 
held  a  mystery  which  he  would  take  pleasure  in 
unravelling. 

He  saw  the  fair  girl-woman  safe  to  the  home 
that  sheltered  her,  and  then  turned  and  walked 
slowly  back  to  his  companion. 


A  father's    darling.  43 


CHAPTER    IV. 
A  father's    darling. 

THE  early  autumn  air  was  chilly  in  the  moun- 
tainous region  as  night  approached,  and 
Norva  Hampton  sat  in  her  room  with  a  blazing 
pile  of  hickory  wood  piled  upon  the  hearth.  She 
had  left  the  drawing-room  for  the  night  and  re- 
paired to  her  own  rooms,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  hall  from  her  father's.  Her  apartments  were 
fitted  up  with  every  luxury  that  money  could  pro- 
cure. Pictures  of  great  value  adorned  the  walls, 
while  well-chosen  subjects  of  statuary  filled  niches 
built  for  their  reception.  This  j)rivate  sitting- 
room  of  this  worshipped  daughter  of  her  father's 
heart  was  furnished  with  perfect  harmony  and 
comfort. 

Heavy  crimson,  silken  curtains,  fell  in  graceful 
folds  before  the  windows,  with  gold  trimmings. 
All  the  chairs  and  sofas  were  upholstered  in  the 


44  A  father's  darling. 

same  rich  coloring.  The  floors  were  of  black  wal 
nut  and  cedar^  and  were  waxed  and  polished  untij 
almost  as  smooth  as  glass.  Costly  Turkish  rugs 
were  laid  before  the  fire-places;  couches  and 
reclining-chairs  were  scattered  about  the  room  in 
l^rofusion. 

The  rich  wine-colored  velvet  dinner-dress  was 
laid  aside  for  a  soft,  clinging,  white  cashmere 
robe,  which  fell  in  easy,  graceful  folds  around  the 
wearer,  as  she  reclined  in  her  low  chair,  while  her 
eyes  rested  dreamingly  and  strangely  upon  the 
hickory  pile  that  glowed  in  the  fire-place. 

She  is  not  alone ;  at  her  side  stands  an  elderly 
negro  woman  combing  and  brushing  out  her  silky 
locks  with  a  hand  of  loving  servitude.  This 
attendant  was  a  character  in  her  way.  She  was 
"  Mammy  Silvia,"  the  foster-mother  to  Walter  and 
Norva  Hampton. 

Sleep  never  sealed  her  eyelids  at  night  without 
her  visiting  the  rooms  of  her  children,  as  she  was 
wont  to  call  them.  She  insisted  upon  brushing 
Miss  Norva's  hair  after  her  own  maid  had  retired, 


A   father's   darling.  45 

and  seeins*  her  safe  in  bed.  After  this  Labor  of 
love  was  accompUshed,  she  must  go  to  Master 
Walter's  room,  to  see  that  he  was  not  sleeping  in 
a  draft;  and  make  sure  that  all  was  well  with 
him.  When  this  was  done  she  could  lay  her 
head  down  for  sleep.  But  to-night  there  is  a 
strange  feeling  of  unrest  in  Mammy  Silvia's  heart, 
and  as  she  looks  on  her  beloved  young  mistress,  a 
deep-drawn  sigh  escapes  her. 

Norva  heard  the  sigh,  and  quickly  said : 
"  What  troubles  you,  Mammy  Silvia  ?  " 
"Oh,  chile,  my  old  heart  is  filled  wid  many 
misgivings  on  your  account.  I  fear  you  is  not 
agwine  to  be  happy  when  you  is  Mrs.  Hastings,  as 
you  are  as  Miss  Norva  Hampton.  Now  'scuse  me, 
chile,  but  I  don't  tink  Mr.  Hastings  would  make 
you  as  happy  as  Massa  Clieffe  Wilbbern  could, 
and  I  is  very  sorry  you  'fused  him." 

"  But,  Mammy  Silvia,  you  know  ClifFe  Wilbbern 
is  the  son  of  my  dear  mother's  brother.  You 
would  not  wish  to  see  me  the  wife  of  my  jcousin  ? 
And  now.  Mammy,  remember,  Mr.  Hastings  is  tlie 


46  A   father's   darling. 

man  I  have  chosen;  and  if  you  wish  to  see  me 
happy,  and  I  feel  that  you  do,  never  speak 
unkindly  of  him." 

"  No,  indeed,  chile,  I  never  will  speak  dis'- 
spec'ful  of  anybody.  You  knows,  honey,  it  is  not 
my  nater;  for  I  has  as  much  family  pride  as  de 
Hastings  or  de  Hamptons,  an  when  dis  young 
wiper  in  sheep's  clothing  gets  a  foot-hold  on  dis 
plantation,  I  will  do  all  in  my  power  to  shield  his 
sins  from  de  eyes  ob  you  an'  de  world;  for  I  feel 
he  is  sent  here  to  do  his  master's  work.  An' 
when  Mr.  Hastings  is  near  me,  I  almost  'magine  I 
can  see  de  cloven  foot  ob  de  debil,  an'  hear  de 
rattlin'  ob  his  chains." 

"  Mammy ! "  and  the  voice  rang  out  cold  and 
sharp.  "Mammy  Silvia,  if  those  words  came 
from  any  one  else  but  you,  I  should  order  her 
from  my  presence  at  once ;  and  if  you  still  persist 
in  your  disrespectful  language,  I  shall  feel  in  duty 
bound  to  do  so  any  way." 

"  Dar,  Miss  Norva,  chile,  may  de  good  Lord 
forgib  me,  an'  de  debil  fly  away  wid  Mr.  Lawrence 


A   father's   darling.  47 

Hastings.  Bat  as  I  had  afore  told  you,  honey,  I 
never  speaks  dis'spec'ful  of  any  one ;  an'  to  you, 
my  angel  lamb,  least  ob  all  de  rest  ob  mankind. 
But  I  is  not  blind :  I  can  see  as  far  through  a 
grindstone  as  de  man  dat  bored  de  hole  in  it,  an' 
when  your  blessed  m  udder  died,  an'  gib  you  a 
little  tiny  baby  in  my  arras,  an'  said :  '  Silvia,  be 
kind  to  my  little  Norva  when  I  is  gone ;  watch 
ober  her  and  shield  her  from  all  harm,'  I  said  in  my 
heart,  '  Yes,  dear  mistress,  I  will.'  An'  you  knows, 
honey,  I  has  always  been  kind  to  you  an'  Massa 
Walter;  an'  when  I  see  dis  angel  of  darkness  a 
tempting  ob  you,  I  feel  I  is  doin'  my  'vine  Master's 
work  to  speak  out  an'  say,  '  Miss  Norva,  honey, 
for  de  lub  of  heaven,  turn  your  back  on  temptation 
an'  de  debil :  for  he  is  in  dis  house,  honey ;  here 
at  de  Mead.  An'  de  bridal  dress,  an'  de  orange 
wreaf,  an'  de  veil  is  all  ready  for  de  debil  to  claim 
my  young  mistress  as  his  bride." 

Norva  arose  to  her  feet,  and  pushed  the  heavy 
masses  of  black  hair  back  from  her  pale,  sweet 
face,    and    pointed    to    the    door :    "  Leave   me, 


48  A   father's   darling. 

Mammy  Silvia,  or  I  shall  ring  and  inform  my 
father  of  the  disrespect  you  have  shown  me  this 
evening.  There,  not  another  word,"  she  said,  as 
she  saw  Silvia  opening  her  mouth  to  speak. 

A  sorrowful  expression  settled  on  the  face  of 
old  Silvia,  and  she  left  the  room  without  a  word. 
When  she  reached  the  hall  and  closed  her 
mistress'  door  gently,  she  rolled  up  her  eyes,  and 
said : 

"  0  Lord,  Master  in  hebben,  what  does  all  dis 
mean  ?  I  have  been  ordered  from  de  face  of  my 
chile ;  an'  now  I  knows  de  debil  am  in  dis  house 
sartin.  I  wonder  if  I  was  to  kill  de  debil,  if  I 
couldn't  rebalutionize  de  world  ob  some  ob  its 
wickedness,  and  if  when  I  dies,  Massa  Walter 
wouldn't  change  my  name,  and  put  Becky  at  de 
fountain,  ober  me,  and  call  me  '  Joe  an'  de  ark  ? ' 
I  is  agwine  to  his  room  an'  ax  him  now."  And 
she  went  and  knocked  softly  at  Walter's  door :  but 
he  was  not  there  to  bid  her  come  in.  So  the  devil 
was  not  disposed  of  that  night.  In  fact,  dear 
reader,  he  still  roams  at  large,  "  seeking  whom  he 
may  destroy." 


Walter's   love.  49 


CHAPTER  y. 
Walter's   love. 

WHERE  was  Walter  Hampton,  that  he  was 
not  in  his  room  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
evening?  Come  with  us  to  the  hunter's  cabin 
upon  the  mountain  side,  and  there  you  will  find 
him.  It  was  September,  when  he  first  met  sweet 
Amy  Le  Clare ;  now  it  was  November,  and  many 
times  had  his  feet  wandered  over  the  mountain 
path  which  led  to  his  idol's  home.  Those  visits 
were  made  without  his  father's  knowledge ;  for 
well  he  knew  that  father's  pride,  and  he  had 
asked  himself  more  than  once,  how  those  visits 
would  terminate.  Of  one  thing  he  was  certain, 
and  that  was,  he  loved  this  fair,  sweet,  brown-eyed 
girl  with  all  the  fervor  and  passion  of  his  soul ; 
and  on  this  night  as  he  watched  the  slender, 
graceful  girl,  as  she  walks  back  and  forth  at  her 
spinning-wheel,  drawing  out  the  soft  even  thread, 

o 

o 


50  Walter's    love. 

that  is  to  be  dyed  and  woven  into  cloth,  it  is 
very  hard  for  him  to  refrain  from  asking  her  to  be 
his  wife.  He  looks  at  Hester  Spots  wood,  the 
grand-parent  of  his  darling,  and  is  struck  with  the 
contour  of  her  face.  She  is  not  yet  fifty,  and 
remarkably  comely  and  graceful,  tall  and  straight 
as  an  arrow,  with  large,  soft,  luminous  eyes;  with 
heavy  masses  of  hair  of  midnight  blackness, 
crowning  a  fine  and  well-shaped  head.  Her  skin 
was  dark,  but  very  pure,  and  the  mouth  was  a 
marvel  of  chiselled  beauty. 

She,  too,  sat  at  a  spinning-wheel — for  Hester 
earned  the  bread  that  fed  Amy  and  herself,  by 
spinning  and  weaving  for  the  different  families  in 
and  around  the  Mead.  During  the  many  times 
Walter  had  visited  Mrs.  Spotswood  he  had  learned 
many  things  to  interest  him.  He  learned  that 
Hester  Boone  had  been  v/ell  raised.  Her  mother 
had  been  a  handsome  Cherokee;  and  her  father 
an  Englishman  of  some  means,  and  a  man  of 
letters.  Before  she  was  fifteen  years  of  age  she 
\eft  her    parents'   protection,  and    eloped   with   a 


Walter's    LOVE.  51 

y(3ung  man  by  the  name  of  Spotswood.  The  fruit 
of  this  marriage  was  a  fair,  sweet  daughter;  to 
whom  she  gave  the  sweet  name  of  Amy.  When 
this  child  was  ten  years  old  Mr.  Spotswood  died, 
and  left  her  very  poor.  At  that  time  she  was 
living  in  Norfolk,  Virginia.  She  was  too  proud  to 
appeal  to  her  father  for  forgiveness,  and  undertook 
to  earn  a  support  for  herself  and  daughter  by 
making  bead  ornaments  and  peddling  them 
through  the  streets  and  on  board  of  ships.  By 
this  piece  of  industry  she  got  along  very  well, 
until  Amy,  her  daughter,  was  fourteen  years  of 
age.  One  day,  not  feeling  able  herself  to  go  out 
with  her  ornaments,  she  permitted  her  daughter 
to  go.  Y/hen  Hester  came  to  this  part  of  her 
story  a  strange  light  gleamed  from  her  eyes,  and 
her  voice  was  low,  deep  and  full  of  pent-up 
passion,  her  fingers  dropped  her  thread,  and  her 
foot  ceased  to  turn  the  wheel.  She  continued  : 
^^  My  Amy  did  not  come  home  to  n^.e  that  night, 
nor  the  next  day,  nor  the  next,  nor  the  next 
week,  and  time  flew  by  until  the  moon  had  waxed 


52  Walter's    love. 

and  waned  twelve  times.  Then  when  my  heart 
was  nearly  broken,  and  I  had  given  up  all  hopes 
of  ever  looking  into  her  starry  eyes  again,  she 
came  to  me  one  cold  winter's  night,  when  the 
earth  lay  deeply  wrapt  in  snow,  and  the  jfleecy 
white  flakes  were  still  falling:  but  oh,  how 
changed  she  was!  She  looked  like  one  from  the 
spirit  land,  with  her  mournful  eyes-,  and  her  thin, 
pale  face.  She  laid  a  little  golden-haired  girl  of 
six  weeks  in  my  lap;  the  voice  was  very  faint 
and  weary,  as  she  said :  '  Mother,  this  is  my  child; 
we  will  call  her  Amy  Le  Clare.  I  married  her 
father  the  day  you  sent  me  out  to  peddle.  I  had 
met  him  often  before  without  your  knowledge. 
Mother,  /  say,  /  married  Mr.  Le  Clare ;  at  least 
a  man  I  took  to  be  a  minister  read  the  marriage 
ceremony  and  pronounced  us  man  and  wife.  My 
husband  took  me  to  Richmond,  and  he  remained 
with  me  until  just  before  the  birth  of  my  child. 
One  morning,  getting  up  later  than  usual,  I  found 
him  gone,  with  a  note  lying  on  my  pillow. 

'"  I  took  the   note  and   read.     It  told  mv  mis- 


Walter's    LOVE.  53 

guided  child  to  return  to  me  :  that  Le  Clare  was 
not  his  name,  and  that  she  was  not  his  wife.  He 
had  accomplished  her  ruin — that  was  all  he 
w^anted.  He  left  her,  he  said,  to  claim  a  wealthy 
bride.  She  need  never  try  to  find  him ;  for  when 
she  read  these  lines  he  would  be  on  his  way  to  the 
ocean,  which  he  would  cross  to  gain  his  wife.  I 
learned  through  my  child  that  this  man  was  not 
young,  was  pleasing  in  his  manners,  and  very 
fascinating.  My  daughter  lived  to  see  the  warm 
spring-time  come,  with  its  soft,  gentle  south  winds 
laden  with  the  perfume  of  flowers,  and  with  her 
destroyer's  name  on  her  lips,  she  left  me  in  my 
great  sorrow.  By  her  cold,  still  form  I  fell  upon 
my  knees,  and  cried  aloud  to  Almighty  God  to 
assist  me  in  finding  this  man,  and  avenging  my 
Amy's  wrongs.  Since  her  death  I  have  wandered 
from  place  to  place,  spinning  and  weaving,  or 
doing  whatever  I  could  get  to  do.  At  length  I 
wandered  to  this  neighborhood.  I  can  hardly  tell 
what  brought  me  here ;  but  I  have  conceived  the 
idea   that   here  I  will   meet   my  deadly  enemy. 


54  walter'slove. 

Woe  unto  him,  when  he  stands  flice  to  face  witli 
Hester  Spots  wood." 

By  this  time  Amy  had  finished  her  evening 
task;  she  took  her  broach  from  the  spindle  and 
Laid  it  in  a  large  basket  in  one  corner  of  the 
room,  came  back  softly,  set  the  wheel  back 
from  the  fire,  and  took  a  low  stool  at  her  grand- 
mother's feet. 

Walter  Hampton's  face  expressed  a  strange, 
deep  interest  in  Hester's  story;  and  after  she  ceased 
speaking  and  commenced  to  rock  her  body  to  and 
fro,  he  said,  "Mrs.  Spotswood,  give  up  this  strange, 
mad  dream  of  revenge.  Think  that  your  daughter's 
wrongs  will  cry  out  against  this  man  in  the  last 
day,  when  all  hearts  are  judged,  and  remember 
that  '  Vengeance  is  mine,  and  I  will  repay,  saith 
the  Lord.' " 

"  Never !  The  blood  of  the  noble  Cherokee  is 
thick  in  my  veins.  I  cannot  forego  my  revenge. 
The  thoughts  of  that,  when  it  shall  come,  sweeten 
all  other  trials  and  sorrows.  I  know  that  when 
I  am  done  with  that  man  he  will  be  judged  by 


Walter's    love.  55 

Hi  III  who  cares  even  for  the  little  sparrows,  and 
who  feeds  the  young  ravens.  If  a  man  trans- 
gress the  laws  of  the  land,  he  is  tried  and  con- 
demned according  to  the  heinousness  of  his  crime. 
I  could  not  bring  this  man  to  a  court  of  justice; 
but  when  I  find  him,  I  will  be  judge  and  juror, 
and  the  decision  I  arrive  at  shall  be  faithfully 
carried  out  to  the  letter." 

Amy  looked  softly  up  into  her  grandmother's 
face,  and  laid  her  hands  on  her  knee.  Hester 
looked  down  on  Amy's  loveh^  face.  All  at  once 
she  rose  to  her  feet,  and,  looking  in  Walter's  face, 
said,  "  ivir.  Hampton,  what  brings  you  to  the 
hunter's  cabin  so  often  ?  " 

Walter's  face  paled  with  these  eyes  keenly  fixed 
upon  him,  and  then  it  flushed,  as  he  said,  "  Mrs. 
Spotswood,  I  think  you  know  why  I  come  here — 
Miss  Le  Clare  is  very  beautiful,  and  I  love  her. 
Have  I  your  permission  to  claim  her  at  some  not 
very  distant  day  as  my  wife  ?  " 

A  low,  mocking^  laudi  broke  from  the  half- 
breed's  lips.     "  There,  Mr.  Hampton,  is  the  door. 


56  ttalter'&loye. 

I  had  forgotten  that  Amy  was  no  longer  a  child. 
Go,  sir,  and  never  enter  this  house  again." 

Walter  thought  it  best  to  leave  when  he  saw 
Hester  was  so  terribly  excited.  He  lifted  his  hat 
courteously,  bowed  good-night,  and  went  slowly 
back  to  the  Mead.  It  was  nearly  a  week  before 
he  ventured  to  go  to  the  cabin  again,  and  then  he 
found  it  empty.  Hester  Spotswood  and  her  golden- 
haired  granddaughter  had  disappeared,  leaving  no 
clue  behind  them. 


BROTHER     AND     SISTER.  67 


CHAPTER   YI. 

BROTHER     AND     SISTER. 

THE  snow  was  piled  high  upon  the  mountains, 
and  ghttered  in  the  valley  below  them.  The 
December  morning  air  was  keen  and  sharp. 
Hampton  Mead  looked  very  beautiful  and  grand 
to  Walter  and  Norva  as  they  left  the  mansion  for 
a  morning  stroll  down  by  the  river.  Scarcely  a 
day  ever  passed  without  their  taking  a  long 
ramble,  if  the  weather  permitted;  and  they  usually 
found  something  new  to  admire  in  the  beautiful 
scenery  around  them.  In  this,  their  last  happy 
morning  walk,  at  least  happy  to  Norva,  the 
brother  and  sister  exchanged  confidence  in  regard 
to  their  future.  Walter  told  his  sister  of  sweet 
Amy  Le  Clare,  and  of  his  love  for  her,  and  of 
his  father's  threat  to  disinherit  him  if  he  did  not 
dismiss  her  from  his  thoughts ;  "  and  that,  dear 
sister,  is  impossible  while  the  light  of  reason,  with 


68  BROTHER     AND     SISTER. 

-which  God  has  endowed  me,  is  left  to  me.  My 
father  has  never  seen  this  lovely  girl,  aiid  cannot 
understand  how  I  can  love  a  girl  watli  the  dark 
hlood  of  the  Cherokees  flowing  in  her  veins.  lie 
called  her  a  dark  savage  of  the  forest,  who  had 
bewitched  me,  when  I  asked  his  consent  to  bring 
her  to  the  Mead  as  my  wdfe.  And  now  I  want 
you  to  use  your  influence  with  him  in  ni}^  behalf. 
Norva,  I  wish  you  could  see  and  know  Amy  Le 
Clare.  She  is  as  fair  as  a  lily,  w^ith  a  superior 
mind,  and  a  holy  innocence  shining  from  a  pure 
and  spotless  soul." 

Norva  raised  her  black  eyes  to  her  brother's, 
and  said,  "  Darling  brother,  I  am  sorry  for  you, 
who  are  so  young,  but  you  know  our  father's  firm- 
ness of  character;  if  he  has  set  his  heart  against 
this,  you  might  as  soon  attempt  to  transform  this 
clear  water  at  our  feet  into  a  sea  of  blood  as  to 
expect  to  change  his  mind  upon  the  subject. 
Nevertheless,  I  will  plead  with  him  in  your  be- 
half, and,  after  next  week,  I  will  persuade  Mr. 
Hastings  also  to  use  his  influence  with  father  in 


BROTHER     AND      SISTER.  59 

your  favor.  He  seems  to  have  a  strong  influence 
over  father,  anl  perhaps  after  I  am  married,  and 
he  sees  how  very  happy  I  am,  he  will  the  more 
readily  give  his  consent  to  your  union  with  this 
'  fair  lily,'  as  you  call  her." 

^'Ah  !  I  fear  not,"  said  Walter,  sadly,  "  for  father 
informed  me  last  night  he  wished  me  to  marry 
Octavia  Stanley,  Mr.  Lawrence  Hastings'  step- 
»  sister,  a  lady  whom  I  have  never  seen  ;  but  father 
says  she  is  very  lovely.  If  she  were  endowed 
with  the  grace  and  beauty  of  a  Hebe,  and  the 
purity  of  an  angel,  she  could  never  fill  the  place  in 
my  heart  that  Amy  Le  Clare  holds.  She  is  the 
guiding  star  of  my  future  life.  She  is  enshrined 
in  my  heart,  and  possesses  every  sweet  and  lovely 
attribute  that  belongs  to  woman.  You  spoke  of 
*  after  next  week;'  that  is,  after  you  have  become 
Mr.  Hastings'  wife.  Oh,  sweet  sister,  is  there 
nothing  I  can  do  or  say  to  prevent  this  marriage  ? 
It  is  for  your  future  happiness  I  wish  to  pre- 
vent it.  It  is  not  worldly  position,  but  it  is  Mr. 
Hastings'  utter  lack  of  soul,  and  when  it  is  too  late, 


60  BROTHER      AND     SISTER. 

my  darling  sister,  you  may  awake  to  this  fact.  I 
want  to  see  you  happy.  I  would  almost  lay  down 
my  life  to  make  you  so.  Say/'  taking  her  hands 
in  his  own,  "say,  can  nothing  prevent  this 
marriage?" 

"Nothing  but  death,"  said  Norva,  coldly. 

Walter's  very  lips  turned  pale  when  he  looked 
upon  her  face  and  beheld  the  determined  light  in 
her  eyes. 

When  Norva  saw"  her  brother's  face  pale,  she 
said,  "  Brother,  you  ask  me  to  plead  your  cause 
with  our  father,  and  In  almost  the  same  breath 
you  ask  me  to  give  up  Mr.  Hastings.  Is  this  gen- 
erous ?  I  know,  Walter,  you  wish  very  much  to 
see  me  happy ;  but  now,  let  me  ask  you  a  question  : 
if  I  will  give  up  Mr.  Hastings,  will  you  promise 
never  to  seek  Amy  Le  Clare  again  ?  " 

Walter  sank  down  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree 
and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands.  He  remained  in 
this  attitude  for  some  time,  and  when  he  lifted  his 
head,  Norva  saw  that  in  those  few  moments  a  ter- 
rible wave  of  anguish  had  swept  over  his  soul,  and 


BROTHER     AND     SISTER.  61 

the  voice  was  low  and  hoarse  which  answered 
her : 

''  Yes,  sweet  sister,  for  j^our  sake  I  will  give  up 
the  darling  dream  of  my  life,  and  live  alone  for 
you,  if  you  will  promise  not  to  marry  Lawrence 
Hastings." 

Nora  looked  on  her  brother  Walter  in  a  pitying 
kind  of  manner,  and  said  : 

"  Brother,  I  know  you  think  in  doing  this,  it  is 
for  my  good ;  but  I  will  not  tax  your  generosity 
to  the  extent  of  asking  you  to  give  up  Miss  Le 
Clare,  and  sending  Mr.  Hastings  back  to  London 
without  me.  But  I  will  pay  you  this  compliment 
for  your  proffered,  noble  sacrifice  of  love,  and 
say :  I  would  do  it  more  readily  for  you  than  any 
other  being  on  earth,  not  even  my  dear  father 
excepted.  I  cannot  give  Mr.  Hastings  up.  He  is  a 
part  of  my  being,  and  my  heart  is  his  for  weal  or 
woe.  And  now,  dear  brother,  let  us  lay  aside  our 
hopes  and  aspirations  for  the  life  that  lies  before 
us :  on  this  lovely  morning  try  to  prepare  our 
minds    to   appreciate    and    enjoy    this    beautiful 


C2  B  H  0  T  II  E  R     AND      SISTER. 

panorama  painted  by  the  hand  of  our  Divine 
Creator.  Oh,  brother,  cast  your  eyes  aloft  to  the 
jeweled  heads  of  the  ^  twins;'  are  they  not  grand? 
are  they  not  sublime  ?" 

When  Norva  called  her  brother's  attention  to 
one  of  the  fairest  landscapes  man's  eyes  ever 
rested  upon,  her  beautiful  olive  cheeks  glowed, 
and  a  tender,  dewy  moisture  gathered  in  her  eyes. 
She  saw  the  wisdom,  goodness,  and  greatness  of 
God  in  all  His  works.  She  loved  and  revered  the 
humblest  of  His  creation,  and  wdien  her  soul-lit 
eyes  rested  upon  the  scene,  she  bowed  her  head, 
clasped  her  hands,  and  exclaimed,  ^^0  Father, 
I  acknowledge  Thee,  the  Creator  of  this  grand  and 
noble  universe.  The  hand  and  genius  of  man  is 
as  nothing,  when  compared  with  Thy  power  and 
skill!" 

Walter  lifted  his  head,  and  a  tinge  of  rapt 
delight  overspread  his  face,  and  for  a  brief  space 
all  else  was  fori>:otten. 

Reader,  there  are  many  whose  eyes  have  never 
rested    upon    a  mountain,   and    those   who    have 


BROTHER     AND     SISTER.  63 

never  been  fortunate  to  do  so,  can  hardly  compre- 
hend the  grandeur  and  beauty  of  the  scene  upon 
Vv'hich  Walter  Hampton's  eyes  rested  when  he 
raised  his  head  at  his  sisters  bidding^.  Immecli- 
ately  before  him,  and  the  first  thing  that  met  his 
appreciative  gaze,  was  a  clear  mountain  river, 
Vvdiose  waters,  for  purity  in  color,  rivalled  the 
glittering  sapphire.  At  the  point  Norva  had 
called  him  to  look  upon,  were  what  is  known  as  the 
"  twins,"  a  spot  wdiere  the  river  forces  its  way 
throudi  the  rocks,  which  tower  above  it  for  some 
two  hundred  feet.  These  rocks  are  perpendicuhir, 
with  a  surface  as  white  as  snow.  At  the  top  they 
are  crowned  with  rich,  dark  evergreens,  whose 
branches  sway  as  though  they  longed  to  dip  their 
emerald  arms  in  the  limpid  waters  so  hir  below 
them.  The  dark-green  boughs  w^ere  slightly 
sprinkled  with  snow  that  morning,  which,  with 
the  briailt  ravs  of  the  December  sun  castino;  its 
pale  golden  glimmer  over  all,  added  new  beauty 
to  the  fice  of  the  lovely  landscape. 

After  gazing  at  this  enchanting  scene  for  some 


G4  BROTHER     AND     SISTER. 

time,  Norva  said :  '^  Walter,  it  is  time  we  were 
returning  to  the  Mead,  and  that  I  was  dressing 
to  meet  our  expected  guests,  who  are  expected  to 
arrive  to-day  from  Wilmington." 

At  this  announcement  a  painful  sigh  escaped 
Walter,  for  it  brought  his  thoughts  back  to  the 
stern  realities  of  life ;  and  at  the  present  time  the 
realities  were  anything  but  pleasing  to  his  mind. 


A     DARK     BEAUTY.        *.  65 


CHAPTER    VII. 

A    DAR  K     BEAUTY. 

IT  was  near  the  luncheon  hour  when  Walter 
and  Norva  returned  to  the  Mead.  A  com- 
modious travelling  carriage  was  just  driving 
around  to  the  stables.  There  had  been  an  arrival. 
Could  it  be  the  guests,  expected  from  Wilmington 
— the  elder  Mr.  Hastings  and  his  step-daughter? 

Just  as  they  reached  the  marble  steps,  they 
were  met  by  Mr.  Lawrence  Hastings,  whose  eyes 
grew  soft  and  tender,  for  he  was  looking  into 
Norva's  tender,  soulful  ones.  He  held  out  both 
hands  to  her,  and  said,  "  My  darling,  congratulate 
me :  my  father  and  sister  have  arrived." 

Just  then  a  strain  of  low,  sweet  laughter  fell 
upon  their  ears  from  the  reception-room  ;  a  strange 
feeling  came  over  Norva,  but  she  put  her  hands 
into  Mr.  Hastings'  extended  ones,  and  said : 

"  I  am  very  glad  your  relatives  have  arrived 


66  A     DARK     BEAUTY. 

I  feared  this  heavy  fall  of  snow  would  have 
prevented  them  from  reaching  the  Mead  for  some 
days.  Excuse  me  now,  Lawrence,  for  I  must  make 
myself  present ahle  to  appear  before  your  father 
and  sister,"  and  a  faint  blush  dyed  her  face. 

"  First  meet  my  sister,  Avho  utterly  refuses  to 
go  to  her  room  until  she  has  seen  you,"  said  Mr. 
Hastings,  leading  her  to  the  door  of  the  reception- 
room  ;  "  you  need  make  no  changes  in  your  dress 
to  add  to  vour  loveliness." 

There  was  no  alternative,  and  Norva  looked 
down  at  her  walking-dress,  and  said,  "  Miss 
Stanley  will  think  me  devoid  of  due  respect  to 
her,  if  I  appear  before  her  in  this  garb,  but  I  wish 
to  please  you  above  all  things." 

Mr.  Hastings  lifted  her  hand  to  his  lips,  and 
said :  "  Thanks,  my  darling ;  how  happy  I  shall  be 
when  the  time  comes,  when  you  will  permit  me 
to  treat  your  lijDs  thus." 

This  remark  called  a  blush  to  her  face,  which 
burned  there  until  she  stood  before  Miss  Stanley, 
and  felt  the  small  snow-flake  of  a  hand  in  hers, 


ADARKBEAUTY.  67 

and  heard  the  low,  soft,  musical  voice  ringing  in 
her  ears.  When  Norva  raised  her  eyes,  she  was 
startled  and  dazzled  at  the  apparition  before  her. 
A  form  petite,  graceful,  and  willowy ;  dark,  rich 
glowing  complexion;  soft,  silky  black  hair, 
clustering  in  soft  waves  over  a  low,  broad  brow, 
as  smooth  as  marble ;  large,  full,  sparkling  black 
Spanish  eyes;  a  small  rose-bud  mouth,  with 
glittering  white  teeth,  which  showed  to  good 
advantage  when  those  perfectly  chiselled  lips  were 
wreathed  in  smiles,  such  as  played  over  this 
lovely  face  now.  All  Norva  Hampton  could  do 
was  to  gaze  enchanted,  with  that  soft,  fair  hand, 
still  in  hers.  It  might  truly  be  compared  to  a 
snow-flake,  for  it  was  as  cold  as  an  icicle;  but 
when  those  scarlet  lips  were  pressed  to  hers, 
Norva,  in  a  measure,  regained  her  self-composure, 
for  a  cold  feeling  came  over  her ;  and  this  gentle, 
dignified  birdling  of  the  mountain  met  this  Lon- 
don lady  with  easy,  quiet  dignity  and  grace.  The 
first  dazzling  effect  had  passed  off",  and  she  could 
question  her  of  her  journey  with  ease. 


68  A     DARK     BEAUTY. 

Lawrence  looked  on  the  two  young  girls,  and  a 
strange  light  gleamed  from  his  eyes :  one  he  called 
his  sister,  and  the  other  was  his  betrothed  wife. 
In  four  days  he  would -stand  with  her  at  the  altar, 
and  take  upon  himself  vows  to  love,  honor,  and 
cherish  her  till  death  should  separate  them.  She 
would  then  be  all  his  own.  What  was  to  become 
of  this  radiant  girl  he  called  his  sister?  He 
watched  her  narrowly,  but  her  countenance  was 
as  calm  and  serene  as  a  May  morning. 

At  this  juncture  Aunt  Louise,  the  house-keeper, 
appeared  at  the  door  for  the  third  time,  to  show 
Miss  Stanley  to  her  room.  This  young  lady 
arose,  kissing  her  hand  to  Norva,  flashed  one 
keen,  long  look  at  Mr.  Hastings,  and  departed. 

After  she  was  gone  Mr.  Hastings  seemed  to  be 
deeply  preoccupied  for  some  time.  The  voice  of 
his  betrothed  at  length  recalled  him  to  himself, 
as  she  said,  "  Mr.  Hastings,  if  you  w  ill  excuse  me 
I  will  go  to  my  room,  and  prepare  to  meet  your 
fiither  at  luncheon." 

An  hour  later  they  all  assembled  in  the  dining- 
room ;    not  the  grand  dining-salon,  however,  nor 


A     DARK      BEAUTY.  69 

the  snug,  cozy  one  where  Mr.  Hampton  had  dined 
alone,  or  with  his  children  since  the  Mead  was 
huilt,  and  which  was  a  favorite  with  his  fair, 
sweet  wife,  but  in  the  general  dining-room  where 
a  few  gathered  together  made  it  very  pleasant. 
The  large  dining-salon  was  seldom  opened,  except 
on  grand  occasions,  such  as  birth-day  parties  or 
holiday  festivities. 

At  luncheon  Norva  met,  for  the  first  time,  her 
intended  father-in-law.  He  was  a  man  of  fifty- 
five  or  thereabouts,  but  one  would  hardly  have 
taken  him  to  be  so  old;  in  fact  he  looked  but  little 
older  than  his  son.  In  stature  he  was  tall,  and 
his  hair  was  slightly  streaked  here  and  there  with 
threads  of  silver.  An  habitual  smile  played 
around  his  finely-shaped  mouth. 

At  this  repast  Walter  was  duly  presented  to 
the  elder  Mr.  Hastings  and  his  beautiful  step- 
dauahter.  A  feelins:  of  aversion  came  over  him 
towards  the  latter,  and  one  of  contempt  for  the 
former ;  for  he  saw  at  a  glance  that  the  son  was  but 
"  a  chip  from  ofi'  the  old  block,"  if  you  will  pardon, 
dear  reader,  the  blunt  but  truthful  old  saying. 


70  THE     LOST     FOUND. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE     LOST     FOUND. 

EARLY  one  morning  in  January,  Mr.  Hamp- 
ton requested  Walter  to  go  to  the  town  of 

B on    important  business   for  him,  to   have 

some  papers  registered  at  the  Court-house ;  and  in 
a  short  time  Walter  was  in  the  saddle  and  on  his 
way  to  the  lovely  little  town,  nestled  between  the 
two  ranges  of  mountains — that  is,  the  Smoky,  or 
a  continuation  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  the  Black 

mountains.      B was    fifteen    miles   from    the 

Mead,  and  looked  like  some  fairy  gem  nestled  in 
the  rich  valley  on  the  banks  of  a  beautiful  river, 
and  the  great  mountains  rising  on  two  sides. 

As  Walter  drew  near  the  town,  a  strange,  sweet, 
w^ild  hope  sprang  up  in  his  heart.  Perhaps  he 
might  come  across  Hester  Spots  wood,  and  her 
golden-haired  granddaughter.  He  longed  for  one 
more  look  into  her  soft,  tender  eyes,  as  the  storm- 


THE     LOST     FOUND.  71 

lost  mariner  longs  for  one  glimmering  ra}^  of  star- 
light after  hours  of  storm  and  darkness.  Now  that 
Norva  was  married  and  the  most  of  her  time 
taken  up  with  her  hushand,  he  longed  more  than 
ever  for  the  presence  of  his  heart's  treasure.  The 
dark,  brilliant,  vivacious  face  of  Octavia  Stanley 
had  no  charms  for  him,  greatly  to  the  disappoint- 
ment of  his  father,  who  was  perfectly  charmed 
with  her.  He  could  not  see  how  Walter  could 
be  indiiferent  to  her  rare  and  glorious  charms ; 
and  during  the  month  she  had  been  at  the  Mead, 
more  than  one  conversation  had  taken  place  con- 
cerning her,  with  reference  to  marriage,  between 
father  and  son.  But  Walter  was  true  as  steel  to 
the  first  love  of  his  heart. 

Arrivinsr  at  B ,  he  transacted  the  business 

he  had  in  hand  and  started  for  home,  going  three 

miles  from  B on  another  road,  to  remain  over 

night  with  a  young  college  friend,  who  had  just 
returned  from  Philadelphia. 

The  first  person  he  saw  as  he  rode  up  to  the 
gate  was  Hester  Spotswood,  with  a  large  roll  of 


72  THELOSTFOUND. 

cloth  under  her  arm.  She  was  just  entering  the 
httle  side  gate.  There  was  no  mistaking  the  tall, 
straight,  dark  figure.  She  stepped  like  some 
queen  of  the  forest.  A  strange,  wild  tumult  of 
feeling  came  over  Walter.  His  first  thought  was 
to  call  to  her;  then  he  reconsidered  the  matter 
and  let  her  pass  on.  Hester  did  not  see  him,  and 
it  was  well  for  Walter  she  did  not ;  for,  if  she  had, 
he  would  not  have  seen  Amy. 

Walter  found  his  young  friend,  Charlie  Field, 
delighted  to  see  him.  After  supper,  the  young 
men  repaired  to  the  large  and  handsome  librarj^, 
to  talk  over  bygone  days  in  the  good  old  Quaker 
City.  Charlie  was  studying  medicine  now,  and 
would  return  to  his  lectures  in  a  few  days.  After 
a  time,  Walter  said  : 

"Charlie,  who  w^as  that  tall,  dark-looking 
woman  that  was  here  this  evening,  as  I  came 
in?     Does  she  live  here?" 

"Oh,  you  mean  Hester  Spotswood,  the  half- 
breed,"  replied  young  Field.  "  She  lives  a  mile 
from  here,  just  on  your  road.     You  will  pass  her 


THE     LOST     FOUND.  7 


o 


house  to-morrow.  She  is  a  strange  woman ;  raised 
in  affluence,  though  poor  now.  Her  father,  they 
say,  is  still  living  and  very  wealthy;  but  she 
preferred  this  life  of  toil,  to  one  of  comfort  by 
returning  to  her  aged  father,  whose  displeasure 
she  incurred  by  her  marriage.  She'  has  a  grand- 
daughter, who  I  think  is  the  most  beautiful  girl 
I  ever  saw,  and  if  it  was  not  for  a  pair  of  soft, 
bright  eyes  away  off  in  the  Quaker  City,  I  should 
almost  be  tempted  to  pluck  this  wild  flower  and 
plant  it  here  in  the  garden  of  Cedar  Vale.  Miss 
Amy  Le  Clare  is  very  well  read,  and  father  is 
trying  to  get  her  up  a  school  here.  He  thinks  it 
a  shame  for  one  so  lovely  and  intelligent  to  live 
as  she  has  to  live,  first  one  place,  and  then 
another,  and  working  on  an  old  spinning-wheel 
day  after  day." 

Walter  listened  to  this  account  of  Amy's  life  of 
drudgery  and  his  warm,  tender  heart  filled  with 
a  fixed  purpose.  He  thought  of  his  father's  great 
wealth ;  of  the  happy  life  of  his  sister,  wdio  never 
knew  a  want  that  was  not  gratified,  if  tender  love 


74  THE     LOST     FOUND. 

and  money  could  procure  it.  He  thought  of 
Lawrence  Hastings,  who  had  now  taken  up  his 
abode  at  the  Mead,  and  poor  Amy  Le  Clare,  his 
heart's  idol,  was  toiling  with  her  delicate  hands, 
from  day  to  day,  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door. 
This  should  not  be.  He  would  make  one  more 
appeal  to  his  father;  then,  if  the  sanction  he 
required  w^ere  still  refused,  he  would  take  his  fate 
in  his  own  hands.  He  would  marry  Amy,  and  toil 
for  her,  if  needs  be.  The  world  was  wide.  He 
was  young,  blessed  with  a  fine  constitution, 
invigorated  by  the  pure  air  of  his  native  moun- 
tains, and  his  simple,  temperate  habits. 

The  young  men  talked  until  late  in  the  night, 
and  then  retired.  Next  morning,  with  the  bright 
winter's  sun  shining  on  the  frosty  heads  of  the 
stately  cedars  at  the  Yale,  Walter  bade  his  friend 
good-bye.  As  the  little  negro  boy  opened  the  big 
gate  for  him  to  pass  out,  he  saw  the  tall  form  of 
Hester  going  to  Cedar  Yale  again;  and  a  glad, 
happy  light  beamed  from  his  eyes,  as  he  touched 
his  steed  lightly  with  his  spurs,  and  dashed  down 
the  road  in  the  direction  of  Amy's  home. 


UNDER     THE     WAVES.  75 


CHAPTEE    IX. 

UNDER     THE     WAVES. 

AS  Walter  flew  over  the  smooth  gravel  road, 
his  youthful  imagination  painted  the  happy 
surprise  Amy  would  feel  w^hen  he  stood  before 
her.  It  took  his  swift  steed  but  a  few  moments 
to  bring  him  to  the  lonely  wayside  hut.  There 
was  no  fence  around  the  hut;  and  he  rode  to  the 
door  and  hastily  dismounted.  The  door  was 
open ;  he  glanced  into  the  room ;  a  bright  wood- 
fire  was  burning.  He  could  see  no  one.  He 
called  softly:  "Amy." 

There  was  a  rustling  noise  in  the  further  part 
of  the  room  that  was  hidden  by  the  swinging 
door.  With  a  low,  glad  cry.  Amy  sprang  for- 
ward and  extended  her  hands,  exclaiming :  "  Mr. 
Hampton,  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you.  Will  you 
walk  in?" 

Walter  waited  for  no  second  bidding,  and  soon 


76  UNDER      THE      WAVES. 

was  seated  on  a  rou2;li  stool  in  the  little  hut, 
which  w^ould  have  done  credit  to  a  palace  for 
neatness.  In  one  corner  of  this  room,  which  was 
about  twenty  feet  square,  stood  Hester  Spots- 
wood's  loom,  with  a  nice  piece  of  checked  linsey 
that  she  was  weaving  for  Mrs.  Fields.  In  another 
corner  stood  bed,  with  a  quilt  as  white  as  snow. 

A  rough  table  with  a  white  cover,  two  or  three 
chairs,  and  the  two  spinning-wheels,  were  all  the 
furniture  that  room  contained,  a  few  shelves 
excepted,  upon  which  gleamed  some  quaint  delft- 
ware,  white  ground  and  with  odd  figures !  How 
destitute  the  place  looked  compared  to  Walter's 
own  luxurious  home  a  few  miles  away!  His  heart 
painfully  swelled,  as  the  contrast  involuntarily 
struck  him. 

Holding  Amy's  hand,  he  said,  "Miss  Le  Clare — 
Amy,  my  darling,  will  you  give  me  the  right  to 
take  you   from  this  life  of  toil  ?     Come  with  me — 

now — this  morning,  and  we  will  go  to  B and 

be  married.  Then  I  will  take  you  to  a  place  of 
safety,  until  I  can  prepare  my  father  to  receive  you 
as  his  daughter." 


UNDER     THE     WAVES.  77 

The  golden  head  drooped,  and  the  bright  eyes 
were  veiled,  while  a  crimson  tide  surged  over  the 
fair,  oval  face,  and  the  little  hands  trembled  in 
Walter's  own.  "  Mr.  Hampton,  I  cannot  leave 
my  dear  grandmother ;  I  am  the  only  being  she 
has  in  the  world  to  love  and  cling  to.  She  says  I 
can  never  marry,  for  she  and  all  her  descendants 
are  cursed  for  her  disobedience  to  her  father." 

Tlien  a  sudden  thou2:ht  came  to  her,  and  she 
said,  while  all  the  color  left  her  beautiful  face, 
"  Do  you  remember  what  grandmother  told  you  at 
the  hunter's  cabin  near  the  Mead,  of  my  poor, 
unfortunate  young  mother  and  of  my  birth?  Even 
if  m}^  grandmother  was  to  give  her  consent  to  this 
marriafre,  I  am  no  fittins;  mate  for  vou.  Yet,  oh, 
do  not  blame  my  darling  young  mother,"  and  poor 
Amy's  voice  trembled  with  deep  emotion. 

"  My  darling,  I  do  not  blame  her,"  said  "Walter, 
soothingly,  as  he  pressed  his  lips  to  her  pale  cheek; 
"  neither  do  I  blame  you,  and  in  proof  thereof,  I 
ask  you  to  go  with  me,  knowing  your  grandmother 
would  not  consent  to  your  marrying  any  one." 


78  UNDER     THE     WAVES. 

"But,  Mr.  Hampton,  what  would  your  father 
say  if  he  knew  my  history  ?  I  have  heard  he  is 
very  proud.  Would  he  consent  to  receive  as  his 
daughter  so  unfortunate  a  being  as  myself?  And 
your  proud,  beautiful  sister,  whom  I  have  so  often 
gazed  upon  unseen,  could  she  call  poor  Amy  Le 
Clare,  sister  ?  No,  no,  it  cannot  be,"  and  a  low, 
sad  cry  broke  from  her  pale  lips. 

Walter  laid  one  hand  on  her  golden  head,  and, 
drawing  her  trembling  form  to  him,  asked,  "  My 
darling,  my  angel,  my  life,  my  all,  how  long  will 
your  grandmother  be  absent  this  morning  ?  " 

"  She  will  be  gone  all  day.  Mrs.  Fields  has 
some  work  to  be  done  at  the  house,"  faltered  Amy, 
as  her  lover  kissed  her  sunny  hair. 

"  Then,"  said   Walter,   "  come  ride  behind  me. 

Whirlwind  will  take  us  to  B and  back  again 

by  one  o'clock,  and  when  we  return  you  will  be 
my  wife.  I  will  leave  you  here  with  your  grand- 
mother for  a  few  days,  and  then  return  and  bear  you 
in  triumph  to  Hampton  Mead.  Your  grandmother 
need  know  nothing  of  the  marriage  until  then." 


UNDER     THE     WAVES.  79 

Walter  was  young  and  sanguine,  and  with  Amy 
as  his  wife,  life  before  him  seemed  like  some 
beautiful  dream.  Amy  was  but  a  child,  not  yet 
sixteen.  After  much  persuasion  on  his  part,  she 
consented,  and  in  a  short  time  they  were  flying 
towards  B . 

They  took  a  by-road,  however,  for  Walter  feared 
that  Hester  might  see  them.  This  circumstance 
proved  disastrous  to  the  young  lovers.  The  clear, 
beautiful,  winding  waters  of  the  Cane  river  were 
very  deep  at  this  point.  No  one  ever  ventured 
to  cross  it  here  except  in  the  dry  season,  when 
the  water  w^as  very  low.  Walter  thought  to  save 
time  in  crossing  here,  instead  of  going  half  a  mile 
below  to  Julius'  ford.  So  when  he  came  to  the 
bank  of  the  stream  and  looked  at  the  sandy, 
pebbly  bank,  he  never  thought  of  danger,  but 
struck  boldly  for  the  opposite  shore.  Pie  had  not 
gone  more  than  fifteen  feet  until  the  noble  black 
steed  and  his  two  riders  were  in  water  to  the  depth 
of  forty  feet.  At  once  Walter  was  washed  from 
the  saddle,  and  poor  Amy  had  her  hand  locked 


80  UNDERTHEWAVES. 

tightly  about  his  waist,  with  a  cold,  frozen  expres- 
sion of  horror  on  her  deathly  face. 

Walter  was  a  good  swimmer,  but  was  now 
encumbered  with  his  boots  and  his  overcoat,  and, 
as  the  current  of  the  river  was  very  rapid,  he 
thought  his  only  salvation  was  to  hold  on  to  Whirl- 
wind's bridle.  When  he  was  first  washed  from 
his  horse  he  had  his  ri^ht  arm  around  the  noble 
animal's  neck;  he  kept  it  there  now,  and  spoke  to 
his  fair  companion:  "Do  not  feel  frightened;  we 
will  soon  be  out  of  this."  But  a  shiver  was  her 
only  reply,  for  the  January  winds  seemed  to  cast 
a  chill  over  her  delicate  form;  but  Walter  felt  the 
slender  arms  tiahten  around  him,  and  this  renewed 
his  coura2:e,  and  irave  him  new  streni^th  to  battle 
with  the  swift  current.  Down,  dow^n  they  went, 
keeping  in  the  middle  of  the  stream.  Whirlwind 
raised  his  head  from  the  water  once  or  twice  and 
neighed  softly,  as  much  as  to  say,  "If  I  cannot  take 
you  safely  to  the  shore,  my  young  master,  we  will 
all  perish  together."  The  animal's  fine,  prominent 
eyes  expressed  almost  human  intelligence  as  he 
battled  heroically  with  the  current. 


UNDER     THE      WAVES.  81 

How  many  thoughts  passed  through  Walter's 
mind  while  in  this  perilous  situation  !  A  review 
of  his  whole  life  came  before  hira,  and  never  did 
the  pale,  frightened  girl,  clinging  to  him^  for  life, 
seem  so  dear  to  him  as  now,  with  almost  certain 
death  staring  them  in  the  face.  After  what  had 
seemed  an  age  to  him,  Walter  felt  the  pebbly  bot- 
tom with  his  feet,  and  at  the  same  time  he  felt 
Amy's  arms  loose  their  hold  about  his  waist. 

"Courage,  my  love;  we  are  safe;  here  is  JuHus' 
ford!  Bless  mj^  noble  horse!  he  has  battled  with 
the  current  for  half  a  mile,  and  brought  us  to  the 
shore  we  were  so  anxious  to  reach." 

Poor  Amy!  her  strength  was  exhausted.  She 
thought  of  Walter's  loved  ones  at  home.  Could 
he  not  save  himself  if  she  relinquished  her  hold  on 
him  ?  It  was  death  anvliow ;  and  with  tender 
thoughts  of  her  grandmother,  and  a  whispered 
prayer  for  him  she  loved  so  dearly,  she  tore  her 
fast-stiffening  fingers  apart,  and  sank  beneath  the 
waves. 


82  THE     FIRST     SHADOW. 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE     FIRST     SHADOW. 

SOME  six  weeks  r.fter  these  events,  the  dark, 
sweet,  gentle  face  of  Mrs.  Lawrence  Hast- 
ings wore  a  tinge  of  grief  and  disappointment. 

It  was  a  warm,  sunshiny  day  in  February;  such 
as  first  whispers  to  us  of  the  near  approach  of 
spring,  when  we  first  begin  to  look  for  the  soft, 
meek-eyed  daisies,  and  the  golden  butter-cups;  and 
first  listen  to  the  soft  chirp  of  the  little  birds  call- 
ing in  sweet,  loving  notes  to  their  mates ;  when  the 
sky  begins  to  look  blue  and  far  away,  and  when 
the  sunsets  begin  to  assume  their  golden,  then  their 
orange  and  purple,  tints. 

It  is  evening  after  one  of  those  lovely,  sunny 
days,  and  Mammy  Silvia  enters  her  nurslings 
room.  There  is  an  expression  of  sadness  on 
Silvia's  face,  as  she  says,  "Why  is  de  shadde?s 
resting  on   my  lamb's  face  to-night?"     The  kind 


THE     FIRST     SHADOW.  83 

old  voice  was  touchinglj  tender  as  she  laid  her 
hand  on  her  mistress'  hair  and  caressed  it,  as  she 
used  to  in  the  fiir  back  days  when  Mrs.  Hastings 
w\as  a  little,  helpless  child  on  her  knee. 

Norva  had  been  married  now  two  months.  Mr. 
Hastings  was  very  devoted  to  her.  She  still  loved 
him  with  an  almost  absorbing  devotion.  She  hnd 
not  lost  confidence  in  him,  but  yet  a  shadow  had 
crept  into  her  heart,  and  Silvia  sees  it,  for  she  has 
been  quick  to  note  every  changing  expression  of 
that  beloved  face. 

Again  she  said,  "Tell  Silvia  what  makes  you 
look  so  sad,  honey?  Has  dat  young  warmint 
been  scolding  Mammy's  baby-lub  ?  Tell  me, 
chile,  if  he  has." 

"Of  whom  are  you  speaking?"  said  Mrs. 
Hastings,  sternly. 

"  No  one  in  particular,  honey ;  dat  is,  I  did  not 
know  but  old  massa  had  been  scolding  ob  you, 
and  I  was  gwine  to  speak  to  Mr.  Hastings  about 
it  'case  now  you  'longs  to  him,"  and  Silvia  rolled 
up  the  whites  of  her  eyes,  mentally  exclaiming : 


84  THEFIRSTSHADOW. 

"Lord,  forgib  me  for  dat  lie;  dat  white-libered 
debil  is  agwine  to  be  de  means  ob  sending  old 
Silvia's  soul  to  torment  sure  enough.  Now,  look 
here,  Silvia,  you  has  got  to  pray,  and  fight  de 
debil  day  and  night ;  no  going  behind  de  stumps 
dis  time.  And,  oh  laws,  Silvia,  you  has  got  to 
pray  for  dat  young  lamb,  Miss  Norva.  What  was 
dat  her  mudder  say  to  me  ? — let  me  see,"  and 
Silvia  turned  her  head  to  one  side  and  commenced 
to  touch  her  fingers  like  she  was  counting,  and 
said,  '•  Yes,  1  'members :  '  Watch  ober  my  little 
Norva ;  shield  her  from  all  temptation  when  I  am 
gone.'  Poor  Miss  Norva,  poor  young  lamb !  Since 
she  has  chano:ed  her  name  her  feelin2:s  have 
changed  towards  poor  old  Mammy  Silvia.  De 
time  ^vas  when  I  could  say.  Miss  Norva,  do  so  and 
so,  or  do  not  do  so  and  so,  an'  she  would  listen  to 
me ;  but  now  if  Mammy  say  anything  she  am 
ready  to  jump  to  de  bell-pull,  and  call  ol'  marse — 
at  least  she  'tends  like  she  am  gwine  to,  but  she 
don't  scare  me,  chillun,  I  can  tell  you  dat ;  an'  I  is 
gwine  to  'spress  my  'pinion  to  my  own  satisfaction. 


THE     FIRST     SHADOW.  85 

Dem  fellers  as  tells  Miss  Norva  an'  Massa  Wal- 
ter dat  de  erf  turns  round  on  its  axle-tree  six 
times  in  four  and  two  hours,  can't  keep  me  from 
'spressin'  my  'pinion.  Dat  ole  Ball  mountain  off 
dar  has  seen  many  strange  tings  in  its  time,  since 
de  Lord  made  it  an'  placed  de  ball  ob  his  foot  on 
it,  an'  dat  must  be  why  dey  call  it  de  Ball  moun- 
tain. I  feels  it  in  my  ole  bones  now^ ;  and  de  time 
will  come  when  mv  ans^el  lamb  wall  prav  for  dis 
same  mountain  to  belch  forth  fire  an'  brimstone, 
an'  destroy  dis  lubbly  Mead  an'  her ;  an'  when  de 
fire  an'  brimstone  is  de  hottest.  Mammy  will  carry 
"water  an'  put  it  out.  Now  something  has  gone 
wrong  wdth  my  chile,  an'  Mammy  has  cut  her 
eye-teeth  an'  wall  watch.  I  wonder  what  it  is, 
anyhow?  Can  it  be  dat  white-libered  cat.  Miss 
Octavia,  as  dey  calls  her? — De  Lord,  w^hat  a 
name !  Well,  I  is'ent  more  than  fifty,  an'  if  I  has 
a  dozen  chillun,  I  wall  nebber  call  one  Octavia,  or 
Lawrence  either,  but  I  wall  call  'em  all  Walter  an' 
Norva." 

After  having  arrived  at  this  decision.  Mammy 


86  THE     FIRST     SHADOTT. 

Silvia  turned  to  her  young  mistress,  and  said : 
^'It  is  time,  my  dear  young  mistress,  you  were 
taking  your  ebening  walk.  You  must  not  stay  in 
de  house  so  much,  honey,  it  is  not  good  for  your 
'gestive  organders ;  let  Mammy  bring  you  your 
hood  an' mantle  ?" 

'^  Thank  you ;  I  believe  I  will  go  for  a  walk, 
the  air  is  so  soft  and  balmy.  Where  is  brother 
Walter,  Mammy  ?  Please  go  and  call  him  to  join 
me  this  evening,  as  Mr.  Hastings  is  sleeping,  and 
Miss  Stanley  is  indisposed." 

Mammy  got  her  mistress'  things,  and  then  went 
to  find  her  young  master ;  but  Walter  was  not  in 
his  room,  nor  in  the  library,  nor  the  parlor,  and 
Mammy  came  back,  and  said,  '^  Miss  Norva,  I 
'spects  you  will  find  young  master  out  in  de 
grounds  somewhere." 

"  Perhaps  I  may,"  Norva  replied,  as  she  went 
down  the  steps  and  into  the  wide  hall. 

Mammy  lingered  in  Norva's  room  for  some  time 
setting  things  to  order,  and  shook  her  head, 
muttering,  "  T'ings  ain't  like  dey  used  to  was,  by 


THE     FIRST     SHADOW.  87 

a  jugfull.  Miss  Norva  is  down  in  de  mouf ;  an* 
Master  Walter,  he  wanders  about  from  place .  to 
place  like  some  lost  spirit  from  de  o'der  world. 
What  is  de  matter  wid  de  boy,  anyhow  ?  It  all 
comes  ob  ole  massa  turning  de  Mead  into  a  tavern. 
Miss  Norva,  when  she  married  dat  white-libered 
cussady  ob  a  man,  I  was  gwine  to  say  (but  Silvia 
Turner  won't  swear,  'deed  she  won't),  just  married 
de  whole  Hastings  family.  Dey  know  which 
side  ob  der  bread  is  buttered;  dey  is  poor.  Miss 
Norva  is  rich,  an'  dey  will  hug  up  to  her  like 
a  sick  kitten  to  a  hot  griddle,  deed  dey  will, 
chillun." 

When  everything  was  arranged  to  Mammy 
Silvia's  satisfaction,  she  went  out  of  the  room  still 
muttering  to  herself. 

When  Norva  stepped  out  upon  the  steps,  she 
saw  her  father-in-law  passing  slowly  to  and  fro, 
with  his  hands  behind  him,  and  his  head  bent  in 
deep  thought.  He  was  so  absorbed  in  his  medita- 
tions, whatever  they  might  be,  that  he  failed  to 
observe  her,  and  Norva  passed  quietly  down  the 


88  THE     FIRST     SHADOW. 

steps  and  out  into  the  lovely  grounds,  and  down 
to  the  shores  of  the  beautiful  crystal  lake  to  see 
the  Last  pale,  golden  ray  of  the  setting  sun, 
mirrored  on  its  deep,  calm  bosom.  She  sank 
down  on  a  low,  rustic  seat,  near  a  statue  of  Diana. 
She  was  concealed  ahnost  from  view,  even  in  day- 
light, in  this  lovely  nook,  to  any  one  approaching 
the  hike  from  the  house.  When  she  had  seated 
herself  she  dropped  her  hands  in  her  lap,  and  let 
her  eyes  wander  over  the  lovely  scene  by  which 
she  was  surrounded — the  grand  and  glorious 
mountains,  and  river  scenery,  and  the  fast  thick- 
ening shadows  of  night. 

A  strange  influence  held  her  to  this  enchanted 
spot.  How  calm  and  beautiful  nature  was !  The 
soft  south  winds  gently  swayed  the  boughs  of  the 
dark,  rich  green  of  the  pines  and  cedars,  and  softly 
whispered  to  the  leafless  boughs  of  the  giant  oaks, 
beech,  and  chestnut,  telling  them  that  in  a  few 
more  days  they  too  would  be  clothed  and  decked 
in  their  emerald  garb.  The  blue  waters  of  the 
lake  came  up  in  little  wavelets  ahnost  to  her  feet. 


THE     FIRST     SHADOW.  89 

Soon  the  young  crescent  moon  arose  like  a  half- 
circle  of  silver  in  the  clear  expanse  of  blue,  which 
was  fast  becoming  thickly  jewelled  with  stars. 
How  those  bright,  glimmering  stars  danced  and 
sparkled  in  the  waters  of  the  lake !  The  dew 
was  beginning  to  fall,  but  still  poor  Norva  could 
not  go. 


90  WHAT     IS     THIS     I     HEAR? 


CHAPTER    XI. 

WHAT     IS     THIS     I     HEAR? 

ATORYA  could  hear  the  beating  of  her  own 
-^^  heart  between  the  sound  of  the  gentle 
little  wavelets  at  her  feet,  as  they  leaped  and 
softly  kissed  the  sandy  beach.  Sitting  there  in 
the  calm,  holy  stillness  of  that  lovely  evening,  a 
deep-drawn  sigh  escaped  her  breast.  Almost  at 
the  same  moment  she  heard  voices  and  footsteps 
approaching,  and  a  faint  flush  died  her  cheek,  as 
she  reco2:nized  the  voices  of  her  husband  and  his 
dark  and  beautiful  step-sister.  Owing  to  the 
almost  perfect  stillness  of  the  night,  Norva  could 
hear  every  word  distinctly  that  was  uttered  by 
the  approaching  parties,  for  they  were  taking  the 
route  of  the  Lovers'  Walk  for  their  promenade. 

Every  walk  and  nook  in  those  magnificent  and 
enchanting  grounds  had  been  named  by  Norva. 
This    beautiful    bordered    walk    she    called    the 


WHAT     IS     THIS     I      HEAR?  91 

Lovers'  ^yalk,  because  it  was  her  favorite  since 
the  arrival  of  Mr.  Hastings,  the  September  before. 
Another  she  called  the  Breezy  Walk,  for  here,  in 
the  warmest  season,  a  soft  and  refreshing  breeze 
seemed  to  cool  the  brow,  when  nowhere  else 
a  breath  of  air  was  stirring ;  and  a  third  she  had 
named  the  Evergreen  Walk,  because  of  the  rich 
deep  shades  of  the  hemlock  which  met  and  inter- 
locked their  branches  overhead. 

When  she  first  heard  those  voices,  and  the  soft 
blushes  stole  to  her  cheeks,  she  thought :  '"  Dear, 
dear  Lawrence !  how  wicked  of  me  to  think  that 
vour  heart  does  not  beat  for  me  with  the  same 
warmth  and  love  it  did  a  few  short  weeks  ago. 
You  and  dear,  sweet  Octavia  have  missed  me, 
and  are  lookins:  for  me  now.  I  should  have 
remained  within  the  walls  of  the  dear  old  Mead, 
until  you  had  risen  from  your  siesta,  and  have 
been  the  first  object  for  your  eyes  to  have  rested 
upon ;  and  now  you  have  come,  with  love  beaming 
from  your  soul,  to  take  me  back  to  our  home." 

Oh!    the   pure,  sweet  love   that  filled' Norva's 


92  WHAT     IS     THIS     I     HEAR? 

heart,  and  lighted  up  her  dark,  tender  eyes  at 
this  thought.  But  the  first  words  that  fell  dis- 
tinctly on  her  ear  sent  a  chill  to  her  heart. 

"  Dear  Lawrence,"  said  the  sweet,  seductive 
voice  of  Miss  Stanley,  "  how  long  is  this  thing  to 
last?  how  long  are  you  going  to  keep  me  here 
with  another  between  us  ?  I  do  not  think  I  can 
stand  it  much  longer.  You  promised  me  when 
you  married  that  stately  Queen  of  the  Mountains 
that  you  would  never  forget  I  was  the  first  love 
of  your  heart." 

"  No,  no,  darling  Octavia,  I  can  never,  never 
forget  that  you  are  my  first  and  my  only  love. 
To  you  I  render  all  my  heart's  homage;  you  are 
the  guiding  star  of  my  existence.  I  acknowledge 
to  you,  my  queen,  that  I  feel  as  though  I  were  in 
eternal  torment,  when  I  think  of  my  situation. 
Bear  with  me,  dearest  Octavia,  and  all  will  yet  go 
well.  If  it  will  soothe  j'our  aching  heart  any, 
because  fate,  or  rather  circumstances  have  denied 
us  for  a  time  that  sweet  bliss  that  shall  yet  be  ours 
— remember,  my  own  darling,  you  are  the  only 


^HAT     IS     THIS     I     HEAR?  93 

woman  I  ever  loved,  or  ever  shall  love ;  and 
though  the  world  calls  Norva  Hastings  my  wife, 
never  does  a  heart-throb  go  out  to  her  from  me;" 
and  as  these  cruel  words  fell  from  Lawrence 
Hastings'  lips,  the  two  passed  on,  little  dreaming 
that  Norva  had  heard  them. 

She  sat  perfectly  still,  with  a  face  as  pale  as 
death,  and  her  delicate  hands  clasped  in  her  lap, 
peering  out  on  the  tranquil  waters  at  her  feet, 
while  her  heart  beat  painfully  and  her  temples 
throbbed  with  intense  suffering.  "  Can  it  be 
possible,"  she  thought,  "  that  that  was  my  hus- 
band, my  Lawrence,  uttering  such  cold  and  cruel 
words  about  his  wife  to  another  woman,  and  tltat 
woman  the  beautiful  Octavia  Stanley — she  whom 
I  have  alwavs  loved  and  treated  as  a  sister?  No, 
no  ;  God  forbid  !  It  must  be  a  horrible  dream — I 
am  ill.  Fie  on  me ;  to  doubt  for  a  moment  his 
great  love  for  me.  When  I  return  to  the  house  I 
will  tell  him  what  I  thought  I  heard  him  and 
Octavia  say,  and  he  will  laugh  at  me  for  my  fool- 
ishness, and,  kissing   my  lips  as   he   always  does, 


94  WHAT     IS     THIS     I     HEAR? 

bid  me  dismiss  such  foolish  thoughts  from  my 
mind.  Oh,  my  darhng  husband!  But,"  and  she 
pressed  her  hand  upon  her  heart,  "  I  cannot  forget 
a  Uttle  incident  I  witnessed  in  the  library  the  other 
day  between  Octavia  and  him,"  she  muttered, 
covering  her  eyes  with  her  hand,  as  though  she 
would  shut  out  the  sight,  if  possible. 

The  dark  phantom  would  not  leave  her.  She 
could  still  see  her  husband  as  he  sat  reading 
before  the  wood  fire,  and  Octavia  as  she  came  into 
the  library  in  quest  of  a  book ;  and,  seeing  that 
Mr.  Hastings  was  alone,  went  up  to  him,  and  fell 
upon  her  knees  at  his  feet,  and  buried  her  face  on 
the  arm  of  his  chair,  while  a  tremor  passed  over 
her  small,  graceful  form.  She  spoke  not  a  word, 
neither  did  he,  but  he  turned  very  pale  and 
hastily  arose  and  left  J:he  room,  leading  Octavia 
by  the  hand.  Norva  was  in  the  conservatory, 
and  the  door  which  communicated  with  the 
library  was  open.  They  did  not  know  she  was 
there.  It  was  this  scene  that  had  cast  a  faint 
shadow  over  her  heart,  but  a  shadow  not  so  faint 


TTIIAT      IS      THIS     I     HEAR?  95 

but  what  old  Mammy  Silvia's  keen  eyes  saw  it. 
But  so  great  was  Norva's  love  for  her  husband, 
that  she  had  tried  to  make  herself  believe  it  was 
some  little  sisterly  grievance ;  yet  she  could  not 
but  feel  pained  at  their  conduct.  And  now,  as 
she  had  heard  a  portion  of  her  husband's  and 
Octavia's  dishonorable  conversation,  she  began  to 
realize  the  truth. 

"  God  help  me  in  my  great  trouble,"  Norva 
exclaimed,  while  her  form  quivered  with  a  sudden 
spasm  of  pain,  and  the  great  tears  of  anguish  and 
wounded  pride  rolled  down  her  face.  .  "  Why 
should  such  suffering  be  mine  ?  Why  does  he  not 
love  me  ?  He  says  his  heart  never  gives  one 
throb  for  me.  Oh !  my  darling  mother,  look 
down  to-night  from  your  heavenly  home,  and 
breathe  a  prayer  upon  your  poor,  suffering, 
wronged  child;  watch  over  me,  and  be  my 
guardian  angel,  for  I  feel  that  there  is  a  dark 
shadow  resting  over  my  future  destiny,"  she  mur- 
mured, as  she  raised  her  eyes  towards  heaven ; 
then,    letting    her   head    fall    upon    her   troubled 


96  WHAT     IS      THIS     I     HEAR? 

breast,  sat  perfectly  motionless  until  the  young 
crescent  moon  had  vanished  from  sight. 

At  length  she  heard  her  name  called  softlj' : 
"  Mrs.  Hastings ;  Norva,  my  darling  wife,  why  do 
you  linger  here  so  far  into  the  night  ?  Octavia 
and  I  have  been  looking  for  you  everywhere.  As 
the  dew  was  falling  fast,  she  returned  to  the 
house,  and  I  continued  my  search  for  you ;  and 
here  I  find  you  all  damp  and  cold,  out  of  doors  at 
this  time  of  night.  Were  you  dreaming  of  love 
and  me,  my  darling  ?  What  a  heavenly  boon 
to  possess  the  love  of  such  a  rare  jewel  as 
you,  my  pet,  and  to  be  allowed  the  liberty  of 
loving  you  so  devotedly,  as  I  do.  Such  women  as 
you  and  my  beautiful  sister  Octavia  Stanley  are 
oftener  sought  than  found,  and  I  feel  proud  to 
share  the  love  and  confidence  of  two  such  women. 
I  feel  blessed  beyond  the  common  order  of  men." 
So  he  said  as  he  kissed  his  wife's  cold  lips ;  but 
she  did  not  see  the  hypocritical  smile  that  passed 
over  his  face  while  speaking. 

She    made    no    reply    to   him,    but   threw    her 


TTHAT      IS     THIS     I     HEAR?  97 

loving  arms  around  his  neck,  and  buried  her  head 
on  his  bosom,  saying : 

"  Dear  Lawrence,  dear  husband,  you  still  love 
me,  do  you  not  ? "  and  her  voice  was  so  sweet  and 
sad  that  it  would  have  touched  the  heart  of 
almost  any  man  save  him,  and  a  smile  wreathed 
his  lips  as  a  low,  musical  laugh  broke  from  them 
and  rang  out  on  the  still  darkness  of  the  night. 

"Love  you,  my  angel,  my  queen?  Of  course  I 
love  you.  What  ever  put  a  doubt  into  ^'-our 
head?"  and  he  drew  her  to  him  and  looked  down 
into  her  face. 

She  could  only  answer:  "'Nothing,  love;  it 
w\as  childish  of  me  to  ask  you  that  question," 
she  said,  even  while  she  felt  the  gloom  gathering 
around  her,  and  knew  that  she  had  not  spoken 
the  real  sentiments  of  her  troubled  soul. 

Why  could  she  not  tell  him  what  she  had  seen 

and  heard?     Reader,  her  husband   possessed  one 

of  those  strong  magnetic  temperaments,  and  ruled 

her  every  thought  when  she  was  near  him. 

Arising,    he    drew    Norva's    hand    through    his 
6 


98  WHAT     IS     THIS     I      HEAR? 

arm,  and  led  her  to  the  Mead,  speaking  words  of 
love  and  comfort  to  her  as  they  were  wending 
their  way  home  ;  and  as  he  was  about  to  utter 
another  strain  of  endearments  as  false  as  they 
were  fair  in  their  outward  appearance,  a  low, 
mocking  laugh  fell  upon  their  ears.  There  was 
something  so  strange,  wild  and  mad  in  this  laugh, 
that  Norva  shuddered  with  fear.  Even  Hastings' 
blood  ran  cold  in  his  veins;  but  as  his  wife 
clung  more  closely  to  him,  he  said : 

"•Do  not  be  frightened,  love ;  it  is  some  of  the 
negroes,  perhaps,  cutting  up  some  of  their  antics." 

"No,  no,  dear;  that  laugh  never  came  from  the 
lips  of  a  negro,"  said  Norva,  trembling. 

"But  you  are  not  frightened  so  badly,  my 
darling,  my  angel  wife,  that  you  do  not  feel  safe 
with  me  ?"  said  Mr.  Hastings,  pressing  his  wife's 
cold  fingers. 

"  I  know,  dear  husband,  you  would  protect  me 
at  the  risk  of  your  life  if  I  were  exposed  to 
danger,  but  yet  there  was  something  so  fearful  in 
that  laugh,"  said  Norva. 


WHAT     IS     THIS     I      HEAR?  99 

"  Yes,  my  darling,"  he  said,  while  a  cruel  smile 
played  about  his  mouth,  "  you  are  right.  I  would 
willingly  sacrifice  my  life  for  you,  if  need  be.  Do 
you  think,  dearest,  you  could  willingly  leave  your 
beautiful  home  and  your  kindred  for  a  year  or 
two,  for  my  sake  ?  " 

In  a  tone  of  some  surprise  she  said:  "What 
do  you  mean  ?     Where  do  you  wish  me  to  go?" 

He  knew  from  her  voice  she  was  troubled  at 
his  question,  and  he  said : 

"  I  do  not  wish  you  to  go  anywhere,  just  now ; 
but  Octavia  pines  for  dear  old  London  again,  and 
you  and  I  will  some  day  have  to  take  her  back. 
But  we  will  not  be  long  absent ;  a  while  in  Lon- 
don, and  a  flying  visit  to  France,  Italy  and  Spain, 
and  then  back  to  the  Mead.  You  are  too  rich  a 
gem,  my  sweet  wife,  to  live  forever  hidden  away 
among  these  mountains,  grand  as  they  are." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  house,  just 
as  the  elder  Hastings  was  entering  it.  His  face 
was  ghastly  pale,  and  his  body  shook  with  great 
nervous  agitation  as  he  walked  hastily  down  the 
wide  hall  without  speaking. 


100  WHAT      IS     THIS     I     HEAR? 

It  was  not  yet  ten  o'clock  when  Hastings 
led  his  wife  to  their  pleasant  little  sitting-room. 
Seeing  how  pale  and  troubled  she  looked,  he 
urged  her  to  retire,  saying  he  would  go  himself 
and  find  her  maid  to  attend  to  her.  As  he  passed 
out  at  the  door,  he  met  Mammy  Silvia,  who 
threw  her  head  back  with  the  air  of  an  insulted 
queen.  Neither  Hastings  nor  Mammy  spoke. 
Silvia  entered  her  mistress'  room,  and  was 
alarmed  when  she  saw  how  pale  and  ill  she 
looked. 

"  Let  Mammy  get  you  a  glass  ob  wine,  honey 
chile.  You  looks  like  you  had  seen  a  ghost,  or 
some  other  libe  fing,  'deed  you  does.  Your  hands 
is  like  ice.  I  hope  you  didn't  stay  in  de  park  till 
dis  time  ob  de  night,  wid  de  dew  a  falling  on  you ; 
case  if  you  did,  Massa  will  have  to  send  and  have 
Dr.  Adams  fotched  afore  morning,  that  he  will, 
my  lamb." 

Just  then  Norva's  maid  knocked  at  the  door. 
Mammy  Silvia  went  and  opened  it. 

"  You  can  go  back  to  de  cabin.  Sue ;  I  will  stay 


WHAT     IS     THIS     I     HEAR?  Id 

wid  Miss  Norva  till  she  gets  sleepy,  an'  tend  to 
all  her  wants.  Dis  is  Saturday  night,  Sue,  an'  I 
know  dat  trim-looking  nigger,  Sam  Silvers,  is  in 
your  mammy's  cabin,  wid  eyes  and  ears  open, 
a  waiting  for  you ;  so  go  'long,  honey  gal,  you  is 
like  all  de  rest  ob  de  fools  in  dis  world,  dey  won't 
listen  to  dar  mammies.  Go  on.  Sue,  gal,  do  not 
mind  an  ole  fool  like  me;  I  was  young  once 
myself,  honey,  and  I  kinder  knows  how  it  goes." 

Then  coming  back  to  her  beloved  young 
mistress,  Silvia  said :  "  Go  to  bed,  honey  chile,  an' 
I  will  make  you  a  warm  foot-bath  an'  bring  you 


some  wine." 


"No;  no  wine.  Mammy  Silvia,  but  you  may 
have  Uncle  Sam  go  and  draw  me  a  glass  of  that 
delicious  cider,  and  you  may  mull  it  for  me;  I  can 
get  wine  anywhere,  but  pure,  sweet  cider  from  my 
dear  Mher's  cellar  I  may  not  enjoy  long." 

"An'  why  not,  honey  ?— you  know  ole  massa  s 
cellar  is  never  without  cider,  summer  an  winter. 
Honey,  what  does  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  this,  dear  Mammy  Silvia:  Mr.  Hastings 


102  WHAT      IS     THIS     I      HEAR? 

is  thinking  of  going  to  London,  and  taking  me 
with  him  for  a  year  or  so,  and  I  shall  miss  some 
of  my  home  luxuries  very  much.  So,  while  I  can 
get  it,  I  will  drink  cider." 

Silvia  started  back,  and  a  troubled  look  over- 
spread her  honest  old  face,  as  she  exclaimed, 
"  Take  you  to  Lonon !  that  cussady  dirty  hole,  I 
was  agwine  to  say — but  I  shan't,  for  Silvia  Turner 
never  swars.  I  say  you  shan't  go  dar  now ;  look 
what  has  come  to  you  by  going  dar  once  in  your 
life  to  that  nasty  little  place  whar  nobody  'spec- 
table  will  live ;  a  place  whar  all  de  scum  of  dis 
country  come  from.  No  sich  family  as  de  Hamp- 
tons live  in  dat  place,  an'  if  Mr.  Hastings  wants  to 
go  to  Lonon,  let  him  go  an'  take  that  little,  soft- 
purring  black  cat  with  him,  an'  that  ole  Tom  of  a 
daddy  of  his — but  you  take  my  'vice,  honey ;  don't 
you  go ;  if  you  does,  you'll  be  sorry  for  it,  an'  neber 
come  back  again." 

The  faithful  old  soul  hid  her  face  in  the  folds 
of  Mrs.  Hastings'  dress  and  wept  like  a  child. 
Norva's  heart  was  touched,  and,  laying  one  cold, 


WHAT     IS     THIS     I     HEAR?  103 

soft  hand  on  Silvia's  head,  she  said,  "  Mammy,  I 
will  be  compelled  to  go  from  my  dear  home  just  to 
get  rid  of  hearing  you  abuse  my  husband.  Go  now 
and  prepare  the  cider  for  me,  for  I  am  very  cold 
and  sleepy." 

'^  Yes,  honey ;  may  de  Lord  forgib  me  for  'glect- 
ing  my  duty ;  but  ole  Satan  do  get  a  shot  of  me 
sometimes  so  strong  it  is  hard  for  me  to  shake  him 
off;  I  does  pray  de  Lord  to  'serve  me  from  his 
hoofs  an'  horns." 

"  Then,  resist  him,  dear  old  Mammy,  and  fight 
him  off,"  said  Norva,  gently,  "  or  he  may  get  so 
strong  a  hold  on  you,  you  may  not  be  able  to  free 
yourself  from  his  clutches." 

*^Hio!  dat  I  do  try  to  do,  honey;  I  keep  my 
candles  burning,  watching  my  chance  to  dodge 
him;  that  I  do,  my  lub-chile.  Now  I  will  go, 
honey,  an'  look  arter  your  cider,  an'  if  I  don't 
ketch  up  wif  de  debil,  my  name  isn't  Silvia  Turner 
— that  it  aint." 


104  WALTER     IS     TRACKED. 


CHAPTER    XIL 

WALTER     IS     TRACKED. 

LATE  as  was  the  hour  after  leaving  his  wife's 
room,  Lawrence  Hastings  went  back  up- 
stairs softly,  and  gave  a  low,  peculiar  knock  at  a 
door  on  the  right  hand  of  the  hall,  and  a  sweet, 
silvery  voice  said,  "Come  in,  dear  Lawrence." 

"  Hist  !  my  love,  not  so  loud  —  it  is  your 
Lawrence." 

Quickly  the  bolt  Hew  back  and  the  door  opened, 
and  Lawrence  Hastings  was  in  the  presence  of 
the  only  woman  he  loved.  A  pair  of  beautiful, 
snowy  arms  were  thrown  around  his  neck,  and 
kiss  after  kiss  was  given  from  Octavia's  rosy  lips. 
He  gathered  the  small  but  perfect  form  in  his 
arms,  and  pressed  passionate  kisses  upon  her  dark 
hair  and  eyes,  while  his  heart  pulsated  wildly,  and 
a  tender  light  shone  from  his  cold  blue  eyes — a 
light  that   had    never    shone   from    them    for  his 


WALTER      IS      TRACKED.  105 

beautiful  wife,  whom  he  had  married  not  for  love, 
but  for  scold. 

He  and  Octavia  Stanley  are  planning  how  they 
can  get  possession  of  Mr.  Hampton's  vast  wealth. 
Octavia's  mother  was  a  Spaniard  of  great  beauty, 
and  had  married  a  young  English  officer  who  died 
soon  after  Octavia's  birth.  In  due  time,  Mrs. 
Stanley  married  Mr.  Hastings,  but  by  the  time 
Octavia  had  reached  womanhood  her  step-father 
had  squandered  all  her  mother  had  left  her,  with 
nothing  except  an  old  ruined  and  dilapidated 
castle  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  whose  solid  walls 
were  washed  by  the  dull,  sad  waves  of  the  sea,  as 
it  beat  upon  the  old  gray  rocks.  This  castle  had 
been  uninhabited  for  two  generations.  Octavia's 
father  had  intended  to  repair  and  fit  it  up,  but  died 
before  this  work  was  accomplished,  and  after  Mrs. 
Stanley  married  Mr.  Hastings  she  had  not  the 
means  to  do  so,  for  she  saw  her  fortune  melting 
very  rapidly,  and  had  not  strength  of  mind  to 
oppose  her  second  husband's  reckless  extravagance. 

When  Octavia  was  fifteen,  her  mother  died.    Mr. 


106  WALTER     IS     TRACKED. 

Hastings  still  kept  his  beautiful  step-daughter, 
thinking  that  in  time  she  would  contract  a  bril- 
liant alliance  and  he  might  then  have  a  home. 
He  also  hoped  his  son  would  marry  well.  About 
this  time  his  old  college  friend  at  Eton  visited  him 
in  London  from  America,  and  a  marriage  between 
Lawrence  and  Norva  Hampton  was  planned.  Mr. 
Hampton  had  liked  Mr.  Hastings  very  much,  and 
was  also  pleased  with  his  son  Lawrence.  By  much 
persuasion  and  scheming  the  elder  Hastings  got 
Octavia  to  consent  to  this  marriage,  though  she 
and  Lawrence  were  engaged  and  loved  each  other 
as  much  as  two  such  selfish  souls  were  capable  of. 
At  first  she  refused  to  listen  to  Lawrence's 
engagement  with  another ;  but  as  he  spoke  in  a 
manner  that  fully  expressed  his  determination,  she 
knew  it  would  be  best  to  fall  into  his  views,  or  at 
least  appear  to  do  so.  Then  Lawrence  Hastings 
had  told  her  that  he  would  in  time  leave  his  wife 
and  return  to  her  with  all  the  Hampton  wealth 
as  a  recompense  for  their  separation;  for  it  was  his 
intention  to  possess  all  their  wealthy  no  matter  at 


WALTER     IS     TRACKED.  107 

what  cost.  Mr.  Hampton  had  no  idea  that  Mr. 
Hastings  was  without  means,  but  after  Lawrence 
and  Norva  were  betrothed,  he  insisted  that  Mr. 
Hastings'  family  should  take  up  their  abode  in 
America.  This  w^as  readily  assented  to  by  Law- 
rence and  his  father. 

Even  after  the  marriage  had  taken  place,  Oc- 
tavia  retained  her  power  over  Lawrence  Hastings; 
they  were  two  strong,  magnetic  souls  ever  draw- 
m^  toward  each  other.  The  elder  Hastings  inti- 
mated  to  his  old  friend  that  it  would  be  "just  the 
thing  if  they  could  only  succeed  in  bringing  about 
a  marriage  between  Walter  and  Octavia;"  he  did 
not  add,  that  he  wished  to  see  both  Lawrence 
and  Miss  Stanley  settled  at  the  Mead,  that  he 
himself  might  be  well  provided  for,  and  have  a 
home  within  its  walls  for  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  reader  knows  how  Mr.  Hampton  looked 
upon  Mr.  Hastings'  suggestion,  from  what  Walter 
told  his  sister  on  that  winter  morning  when  he 
confided  to  her  his  love  for  Amy  Le  Clare.  Since 
Norva's  marriage  Mr.  Hampton  had  begged  Walter 


108  WALTER     IS     TRACKED. 

to  address  Octavia,  but  Walter  replied  that  he  did 
not  love  her,  and  never  would;  at  which  Mr. 
Hampton  became  very  angry,  and  sternly  de- 
manded that  he  would  "never  think  of  marrying 
that  young  savage."  This  was  the  evening  before 
he  started  Walter  to  B ,  on  business. 

Mr.  Hastings  frequently  spoke  of  a  union  to 
Octavia  between  herself  and  Walter.  She  would 
give  a  low,  musical  laugh,  and  say,  "  Dear  papa, 
I  do  not  think  young  Hampton  appreciates  my 
charms  very  much,  and,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  would 
rather  try  my  powers  at  charming  the  father  than 
the  son.  How  very  nice  it  would  be  for  me  to  be 
Lawrence's  mother-in-law  !  "  Of  course.  Miss  Stan- 
ley did  not  wish  to  let  her  step-father  know  how 
matters  stood  between  her  and  his  son ;  not  that 
she  feared  him,  but  she  desired  to  let  Lawrence 
work  out  their  plans  himself. 

To-night,  as  she  felt  his  warm  breath  on  her 
cheeks,  she  said,  "  Oh !  Lawrence,  why  do  you  not 
take  your  father  into  our  plans  ?  He  is  older  than 
we  are,  and  perhaps  he  can  suggest  a  way  for  you 


WALTER     IS     TRACKED.  109 

to  escape  from  the  galling  bonds  that  bind  you  to 
that  soft  simpleton  who  hangs  on  your  every 
word,  and  worships  you  so.  If  you  do  not,  you 
will  have  to  take  me  away  from  this,  or  I  will  be 
tempted  to  do  something  desperate.  Lawrence, 
this  is  killing  me,"  she  cried. 

He  said :  "  My  darling,  I  know  it  is  hard  for 
you  to  endure  all  this,  but  it  must  be  so  a  little 
longer;  remember  what  we  have  at  stake.  We 
are  poor ;  with  the  exception  of  your  jewels,  all 
else  is  gone,  but  a  bare  standing  wall  and  a  few 
old  tumble-down  towers  at  Castle  Rook.  This 
composes  the  bulk  of  your  wealth,  and  I  have 
nothing.  Look  at  this  magnificent  plantation  and 
all  the  slaves,  this  beautiful  home ;  and  remember 
this  plantation  is  in  the  rich  lowlands  near  Wil- 
mington, and  the  gold  mine  at  Charlotte,  which  is 
now  paying  Mr.  Hampton  a  handsome  dividend 
every  year.  What  a  happy  life  we  could  enjoy 
with  all  this  wealth !  and  it  shall  be  ours.  But 
you  must  have  patience.  It  will  take  time  to 
develop  our  future  plans.     So  you  think  it  would 


110  WALTER     IS      TRACKED. 

be  well  to  take  the  old  gentleman  into  our  confi- 
dence, and  see  if  he  cannot  assist  us  and  further 
our  oTeat  undertakind;.  I  thou2:ht  at  first  to  take 
Mrs.  Plastings  to  Wilmington  for  a  time,  knowing 
her  presence  was  so  repugnant  to  you,  but  she 
seems  reluctant  to  go,  as  she  has  a  discarded 
lover  there,  in  the  shape  of  a  young  minister,  who 
they  say  has  almost  broken  his  heart  over  her; 
but  I  will  have  you  and  father  take  a  trip  to  New 
Orleans,  to  remain  there  until  the  weather  gets 
warm,  and  when  you  return  to  Hampton  Mead, 
my  plans  may  begin  to  assume  a  definite  form." 

"  Oh !  but  it  is  so  hard  for  me  to  tear  myself 
from  you,  my  love,"  said  Octavia,  in  a  mournful 
voice,  choked  with  unshed  tears. 

"  I  know  it  is,  my  angel,"  said  Mr.  Hastings, 
straining  her  to  his  bosom ;  "  but  it  is  growing 
late,  love.  Go  to  your  chamber.  Trust  me,  and 
try  to  rest.  I  shall  not  go  to  Mrs.  Hastings'  room 
to-night.  My  darling,  we  must  be  very  cautious. 
That  old  black  Egyptian  mummy  that  is  forever 
hanging  around  Mrs.  Hastings,  dislikes  and  dis- 


TVALTER     IS     TRACKED.  Ill 

trusts  me,  and  I  feel  that  she  has  got  her  mind 
set  upon  watching  me.  One  of  the  first  things  I 
will  do,  when  I  am  master  here,  will  be  to  sell 
old  Silvia."  Then,  with  one  more  kiss,  Lawrence 
Hastings  stole  out  of  Octavia's  room. 

So  many  thoughts  forced  themselves  upon  his 
mind  that  he  felt  he  could  not  sleep;  consequently 
he  did  not  seek  his  pillow,  but  lit  a  cigar  and 
went  out  into  the  clear,  calm  starlight  to  smoke. 
It  was  after  eleven  o'clock  before  he  thouo:ht  of 
returnins:  to  the  house  airain,  when  he  saw  "Walter 
emerge  from  the  side  entrance,  with  a  package 
under  his  arm,  and  walk  rapidly  down  to  the 
river.  Lawrence  followed  him  cautiously.  When 
Walter  reached  the  river,  he  put  his  bundle  in  a 
canoe,  and  commenced  to  row  rapidly  up  the  dark 
stream. 

"  Ha,  ha !  Walter  Hampton,  you  have  a  secret, 
and  I  am  going  to  find  it  out,"  Mr.  Hastings 
muttered.  "  It  may  be  of  value  to  me  in  my 
future  plans."  A  fiendish  light  gleamed  from  his 
eyes  as  he  walked  along  the  river  bank,  keep- 
ing the  canoe  in  sight.  •  ,  ' 


112  .         WALTER     IS     TRACKED. 

It  was  a  long  walk  of  five  miles  he  had  of  it, 
before  he  reached  the  place  where  Walter  landed 
his  little  barque.  It  was  at  the  foot  of  an  over- 
hansrins:  cliff  of  rocks.  Lawrence  saw  Walter 
fasten  his  canoe  to  a  small  tree,  lift  his  bundle, 
and  hurry  up  the  rough  side  of  the  cliff  and  dis- 
appear. Hastings  watched  for  two  hours,  but 
could  not  get  a  clue  to  the  secret,  nor  find  where 
he  had  disappeared ;  so  he  untied  the  canoe, 
jumped  in,  and  muttered  : 

''1  will  ride,  this  time,  young  man,  and  you  can 
walk.  By  the  eternal  gods!  I'll  know  his  secret," 
and  his  hard  laugh  rang  out  on  the  dark  waters 
like  the  laugh  of  an  evil  spirit,  as  he  was. 


A     DARKER      SHADOW.  113 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


A     DARKER     SHADOW. 


ALL  day  long  the  rain  bad  been  falling,  with 
no  ray  of  sunshine  to  relieve  the  gloom. 
Shadows  hung  thick  and  dark  over  mountains  and 
river;  but  a  darker,  deeper  shadow  rested  on 
Hampton  Mead — a  shadow  that  cast  a  gloom 
over  everv  heart  there,  save  that  of  Lawrence 
Hastings.  Walter,  the  proud  young  heir,  was 
hanislied  from  the  home  of  his  childhood,  cast  out 
from  his  fathers  heart  and  from  his  beloved 
sister's  presence. 

The  morninix  after  Lawrence  had  followed 
"Walter,  he  .  arose  early,  and  was  out  in  the 
grounds  before  the  eastern  horizon  had  received 
its  first  streaks  of  gold,  or  the  gray  dawn  had 
been  pierced  with  the  sunlight,  laying  in  wait  for 

Walter;  and  soun  the  latter  made  his  appearance. 
If 


114  A     DARKER      S  11  A  D  0  TT. 


» 
&? 


"  Ah  !  Walter,  you  are  up  early  this  morning 
said  Lawrence,  blandly. 

"  Somewhat  earlier  than  you,  perhaps,"  said 
Walter  coldly,  and  he  shot  a  keen  glance  at  him 
as  he  spoke.  He  felt  that  Lawrence  was  his 
deadly  enemy,  and  that  he  suspected  his  secret, 
perhaps  knew  it,  or  why  did  he  find  his  canoe 
gone,  and  then  find  it  safely  chained  to  its  stake 
when  he  reached  home?  But  Walter  could 
see  no  expression  in  his  brother-in-law's  face  that 
revealed  the  secret,  if  he  knew  it,  and  Walter 
went  on  into  the  house  without  any  further  con- 
versation. 

After  breakfast,  Lawrence  asked  Mr.  Hampton 

if  he  would  get  Walter  to  go  to  B for  him, 

to  procure  seats  in  the  Wednesday's  stage-coach, 
for  his  father  and  sister.  Walter  gladly  consented 
to  do  so,  for  he  felt  it  would  be  a  relief  to  have 
Octavia  and  Mr.  Hastings  away  from  the  Mead. 
So,  immediately  after  finishing  his  breakfast,  he 
set  out  for  his  fifteen-mile  ride  on  Whirlwind,  with 
a  comparatively  light  heart. 


A     DARKER     SHADOW.  115 

Soon  after  Walter's  departure,  Lawrence  Hastings 
had  a  long  conversation  with  his  father ;  then  he 
sought  Mr.  Hampton  and  said: 

''  Sir,  it  is  a  painful  duty  I  have  to  perform,  but 
I  know  you  will  thank  me  for  it,"  and  he  sat 
down,  while  a  troubled  look  appeared  to  come 
over  his  face. 

Mr.  Hampton  saw  this  look,  and,  in  a  some- 
what alarmed  manner,  said  : 

"What  have  you  to  communicate  to  me,  my 
dear  son,  that  brings  that  pained  expression  into 
your  face?  Is  it  anything  concerning  my  daughter? 
Let  me  know  at  once,"  and  Mr.  Hampton's  face 
turned  very  pale  as  he  spoke. 

"  Nothing,  my  dear  sir,  concerning  your  daughter; 
she  is  quite  well  and  cheerful ;  but  it  is  of  your 
son  Walter  I  would  speak.  I  know  you  have  very 
brilliant  prospects  for  him,  but,  my  dear  sir,  Walter 
has  a  secret.  All  his  nights  are  spent  away  from 
home.  I  think  he  is  away  gambling,  or  else  he 
has  that  half-breed,  Hester  Spotswood's  grand- 
daughter, Amy   Le  Clare,  hid   in   the   mountains 


116  A     DARKER      SHADOW. 

somewhere.     I  think  it  would  be  well  to  watch 
him." 

At  this  Mr.  Hampton  arose  to  his  feet  and 
commenced  to  walk  up  and  down  his  library  in  a 
state  of  great  mental  suffering  and  wild  fears  for 
his  beloved  son's  welfare,  but  he  said,  after  a  few 
moments  had  been  spent  in  thinking  tlie  matter 
over  : 

"  I  thank  you,  Lawrence,  for  your  information 
in  this  case.  I  will  not  watch  Walter — I  have  too 
much  self-respect  for  that — but  I  will  boldly  and 

above  board,  ask  him,  when  he  returns  from  B , 

what  has  become  of  this  girl,  Amy  Le  Clare." 

Walter  was  watched  by  another  person  besides 
Lawrence  Hastinixs.  After  the  interview  with 
his  father-in-law,  Lawrence  went  down  to  the 
river  and  jumped  into  a  canoe,  telling  Uncle  Isom 
he  was  going  a  fishing.  Lawrence  was  absent 
some  time.  When  he  returned  he  was  very  pale 
and  excited.  He  had  explored  the  cave  and  found 
the  remains  of  a  fair  young  girl  of  rare  beauty, 
lying  on  a  rude,  but  clean  bed,  in  a  large  cavern 


A     DARKER     SHADOW.  117 

or  chamber,  whose  grand  architecture  came  direct 
from  the  hand  of  the  great  Builder  of  builders. 
She  could  not  have  been  dead  long,  for  her  body 
was  hardly  cold.  How  holy  and  beautiful  she 
looked,  lying  there  on  that  humble  bed,  wrapt  in 
the  arms  of  death,  and  all  alone  in  her  cold,  sweet 
loveliness,  with  her  delicate  white  hands  crossed 
upon  her  motionless  bosom,  and  her  glorious  hair 
falling  in  rippling  waves  of  gold  about  her  childish 
face,  so  calm  and  heavenly  in  its  mysterious 
silence,  and  the  slanting  rays  of  sunshine  that 
found  their  way  through  the  rocks  fell  upon  the 
lovely  sleeper's  face,  resting  like  a  holy  benediction 
over  the  beautiful,  unknown  dead !  It  was  a  scene 
so  grand,  so  holy,  so  sad,  so  spiritual  in  its  pre- 
sentation,  as  to  almost  make  one  in  love  with 
death. 

Lawrence  stood  for  a  time  like  one  in  a  dream, 
and  gazed  down  upon  the  still  form  at  his  feet, 
and  a  wave  of  half  pity,  half  regret,  passed  over 
his  cold,  hard  heart,  though,  villain  as  he  was, 
it  only  lasted  for  a  moment,  and  like  the  great 


118  A     DARKER     SHADOW. 

tidal  wave  of  old  ocean  was  lost.  It  was  the  first 
feeling  of  pity  that  ever  found  a  place  in  his 
bosom,  save  for  the  dark  and  bewitching  Octavia 
Stanley,  whom  he  loved  as  much  as  it  was  possible 
for  a  man  of  his  organization  to  do.  Having 
taken  in  the  surroundings,  he  left  the  cave,  casting 
one  hurried  glance  at  the  young  girl  as  she  lay  so 
peacefully,  a  victim  to  the  king  of  terrors,  and 
entering  his  barque  turned  his  face  toward  the 
Mead. 

Walter  returned  the  evening  of  the  same  day 
that  Lawrence  Hastings  had  visited  the  cave,  and 
informed  his  father  that  he  had  secured  seats  in 
the  stage-coach.  That  night,  as  Walter  lingered 
in  the  library,  his  father  noticed  a  strange  expres- 
sion in  his  son's  eyes;  and,  turning  to  him  sud- 
denly, said  : 

"  Walter,  where  is  your  mother's  wedding-ring? 
I  have  not  seen  it  for  months." 

'^  I  will  hand  it  to  you  to-morrow,  father ;  I  am 
too  tired  to-night  to  get  it  for  you,"  said  he,  while 
deathly  pallor  tinged  his  face. 


A     DARKER     SHADOW.  119 

Poor  Walter  had  promised  his  father  something 
that  he  would  not  be  able  to  do. 

After  leaving  his  father's  presence,  Walter  went 
quietly  out  of  the  house,  and,  entering  his  canoe, 
struck  boldly  up  the  stream,  keeping  time  with 
his  oars  to  the  sobbing  of  the  waters  which  seemed 
to  be  breathing  a  requiem  for  a  lost  soul,  and  an 
awful  presentiment  lurked  in  his  heart  that  some- 
thing was  about  to  happen — that  the  corner-stone 
of  his  past  sweet  happiness  was  about  to  be  torn 
from  its  foundation,  for  a  dark  pall  enveloped  his 
everv  thou2;ht.  and  he  felt  as  thou2;h  the  ano;el 
of  darkness  had  cast  his  sombre  wings  over  his 
future  destin}^,  obliterating  every  ray  of  sunshine 
and  happiness  from  his  j)athway. 

*  *  *  *  ♦         * 

When  Walter  again  returned  to  his  once  happy 
childhood's  home,  his  handsome  vouno:  face  looked 
as  though  years  of  suffering  had  passed  over  it; 
his  eyes  were  sunken,  and  his  mouth  wore  a 
pained  expression.  Oh,  what  a  wreck  he  presented 
of  the  once  happy  and  handsome  Walter,  and  he 


120  A     DARKER     SHADOW. 

was  afraid  to  appear  before  his  stern  father,  so 
<i  re  at  was  the  change  he  had  undergone;  but  he 
determined  to  tell  the  truth  if  it  were  demanded 
of  him,  no  matter  at  what  cost,  or  how  severe  the 
'penalty. 

The  morning  had  far  advanced  when  Walter 
met  his  father  after  his  absence,  and  a  fixed,  deter- 
mined look  was  on  his  face.  The  father  was  the 
first  to  speak. 

"  Well,  Walter,  have  you  brought  me  the 
rmgr : 

"  No,  father,  I  have  not,  and  now  let  us  come 
to  a  full  understanding.  I  know  you  had  great 
hopes  for  me,  dear  father,  and  wished  to  see  me  wed 
Miss  Stanley,  but  let  me  tell  you  once  and  for  all, 
Miss  Stanley  can  never  be  anything  to  me  except 
an  acquaintance,  for  my  heart  is  given  to  one  who 
is  as  far  above  her  in  point  of  intellect  and  virtue 
as  the  sun  is  above  the  earth.  Oh,  father  !  let  me 
tell  you  of  her  I  love ;  then  you  will  have  com- 
passion on  your  son!"  cried  Walter,  his  voice 
trembling  with  deep  emotion. 


A     DARKER     SHADOl^.  121 

"No!  no!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hampton,  sternly. 
"  Walter,  my  boy,  the  pride  of  my  old  age,  I  will 
listen  to  no  story  of  your  love  for  that  half-breed 
whom  you  keep  concealed  in  the  mountains.  This 
morning  you  must  choose  your  course  in  life  :  either 
give  up  home,  father  and  sister,  or  else  abandon 
her ;  and  instead  of  leading  a  miserable  existence, 
and  being  a  dishonor  to  all  who  know  you,  be  a 
man  and  a  gentleman." 

*'  Be  it  as  you  say,  my  dear  fiither,  and  now 
good-bye,  for  I  may  never  look  upon  your  face 
again,  and  though  you  drive  me  from  my  child- 
hood's home  and  all  I  hold  dear,  yet  I  shall  never 
forget  you  are  my  father.  Farewell,  father.  May 
my  sister  Norva  be  a  comfort  to  you  in  your  old 
age,"  said  Walter,  in  a  voice  filled  with  deep 
emotion. 

Oh !  the  grief  and  anguish  that  was  depicted 
upon  his  young  but  careworn  face,  as  he  went 
out  from  the  dear  old  Mead,  an  exile  from  home, 
and  though  so  near,  and  yet  so  far,  for  the  noble 
Walter  Hampton  was  banished  from  Hampton 
Mead. 


122  THE     WILL. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE     WILL. 

IT  was  on  Tuesday  morning  that  Walter 
Hampton  bade  his  father  that  sad  farewell, 
and  still  the  rain  made  mournful  music  as  it  fell 
in  great  drops  upon  the  window-panes.  Out  of 
doors  it  was  dark  and  dreary;  within  was 
darker  gloom,  which  had  swallowed  up  all  the 
sunshine  within  that  once  happy  home,  and 
to-day  the  hearts  of  two  of  its  inmates  are  wrung 
with  sorrow. 

Late  in  the  day  Norva  came  down  into  the 
library  to  see  her  father.  She  found  him  sitting 
near  a  window  with  his  face  partially  bowed  upon 
his  hands,  and  she  started  back  in  alarm  and  sur- 
prise when  she  saw  how  aged  he  had  grown  since 
the  previous  night  when  she  had  bid  him  good- 
night. She  laid  a  soft  hand  upon  his  shoulder. 
He  had  not  seen  her  enter  the  room,  and  raised 


THE     WILL.  123 

his  head  in  a  frightened  manner  and  looked  at 
her;  for  a  moment  he  thou2:ht  his  beloved  wife 
stood  before  him.  Then,  remembering  the  events 
of  the  morning,  he  gathered  his  gentle  daughter  to 
his  heart  and  wailed  forth  : 

"  Oh,  Norva !  my  daughter !  have  pity  on  me, 
or  my  poor  old  heart  will  break." 

Norva  twined  her  arms  about  his  neck,  and 
said  softly : 

"  Dear  father,  what  is  the  matter  with  you  this 
morning?  You  seem  to  be  in  deep  distress.  Tell 
me  what  it  is,  that  I  may  share  your  grief,  what- 
ever it  is.  Where  is  my  brother?  I  have  not 
seen  him  this  morning,  and  that  is  strange,  for  he 
has  always  been  the  first  to  greet  me  as  I  left  my 
room  when  he  was  at  home ; "  then,  subduing  a 
wild  throb  at  her  heart,  she  sat  down  by  her 
father's  side  and  said  :  ^'  Dear  father,  tell  me  all.'* 

Mr.  Hampton  complied  with  her  request, 
though  it  was  a  painful  duty  for  him  to  perform. 
When  he  finished  he  lifted  his  daughter  in  his 
arms,   and   bore   her   to   her  chamber;    she    had 


124  THE     WILL. 

fainted,  and  lay  like  one  dead;  a  horrible  night- 
mare seemed  to  be  upon  him,  from  which  he  tried 
to  awaken.  He  thought  he  was  bereft  of  both  his 
children  at  once,  so  long  did  Norva  lie  in  the 
death-like  swoon  that  came  upon  her  when  her 
father  told  her  he  had  banished  his  only  son  from 
his  home. 

At  length,  with  the  assistance  of  Mamm}^  Silvia 
and  Aunt  Louise,  the  housekeeper,  Norva  Hastings 
recovered,  and  her  eyes  rested  full  upon  her  father's 
troubled  face,  but  no  words  fe}l  from  her  pale  lips. 
Her  father  was  greatly  pained  at  the  look  she 
o'ave  him,  and  felt  somewhat  rebuked  for  his  rash- 
ness ;  but  his  heart  did  not  relent  towards  Walter. 
Thou  oh  a  kind  and  noble-hearted  man,  he  w^as 
very  proud,  and  had  had  bright  hopes  that  AValter 
would  fulfil  his  cherished  dreams.  Now  he  beheld 
all  those  bright  hopes  lying  in  ruins  at  his  feet — 
trampled  upon  by  him  from  whom  he  had  expected 
so  much,  and  his  name  which  had  never  borne  a 
blemish,  now  dishonored,  and  by  his  son ;  he  felt 
that  he  could  no  longer  be  a  son  of  his ;  and  going 


THE      WILL.  12-3 

out  of  the  room  he  ordered  Ipom  Turner  to  go  tell 
Mr.  Byrd,  his  hawjer,  that  he  wanted  to  see  hhn 
at  the  Mead,  at  once. 

Lawrence  Hastings  heard  Mr.  Hampton  give 
this  order,  and  his  evil  eyes  lighted  up  with  a 
strange,  triumphant  glow ;  for  he  J»:neiv  why  Byrd 
was  sent  for,  just  ns  well  as  he  did  a  few  hours 
later,  when  Mr.  Hampton  called  him  into  the 
library  and  said  : 

"  Hence  and  forever,  Lawrence,  you  are  my 
only  son.  Mr.  Byrd  will  soon  be  here,  and  I  shall 
make  my  will.  I  have  a  prespntiment  that  some- 
thing is  going  to  happen  to  me,  and  I  do  not  want 
Walter  to  have  anj-^  part  of  my  wealth.  He  is  the 
first  Hampton  that  has  ever  disgraced  the  name." 
Then  he  bowed  his  head  in  his  hands,  and  sat  in 
deep  thought  for  a  long  time.  Lawrence  was  so 
overjoyed  at  this  piece  of  news,  he  could  not  find 
voice  to  speak  for  some  time ;  at  last  he  said  : 

'^  Do  not  be  too  hasty,  my  dear  sir.  Walter  may 
reform  his  evil  wavs,  when  he  has  sown  his  wild 
oats.     He    is    not   jet    twenty-two.     He    has    no 


126  THE      WILL. 

profession,  and  he  will  soon  tire  of  this  girl,  when 
he  fully  understands  what  trouble  she  has  caused 
him." 

"  Oh  !  I  could  perhaps  have  forgiven  him  if  he 
had  married  her;  but  to  keep  her  hid  in  the 
mountains  for  months,  as  his  mistress,  is  more 
than  I  can  bear,  even  from  a  son,"  said  Mr. 
Hampton. 

A  sudden  thought  then  entered  Lawrence 
Hastings'  mind,  and  he  said,  sinking  his  voice 
almost  to  a  whisper, 

"I  do  not  think  that  is  Walter's  greatest  fault. 
I  fear  his  soul  is  stained  with  human  blood." 

A  low  wail  broke  from  the  lips  of  Mr.  Hampton, 
and  he  fell  back  in  his  chair  in  spasms,  frightful 
to  behold,  that  made  Hastings  repent  his  rash 
words,  for  he  began  to  fear  Mr.  Hampton  would 
not  be  able  to  attend  to  business  when  his  lawyer 
came.  He  poured  out  a  glass  of  wine,  and  put  it 
to  the  suffering  man's  lips,  and  in  a  short  time 
Mr.  Hampton  recovered,  and  bade  Lawrence  leave 
him ;  "  For,"  said  he,  "  my  son,  I  cannot  hear  more 


THE     AVILL.  127 

at  this  time;  we  will  talk  further  on  this  subject, 
hereafter." 

Thus  dismissed,  Lawrence  went  out  and  ordered 
a  horse  to  be  saddled  for  his  use,  as  he  himself 
should  go  for  Dr.  Adams,  to  attend  his  wife, 
who  was  quite  ill.  He  did  go  for  the  family 
physician,  but  first  visited  the  cave  where  he 
had  seen  that  beautiful  inanimate  form  with  its 
wealth  of  golden  hair  resting  like  a  halo  about 
the  cold,  sweet  face,  but  there  was  nothing  there 
to  give  token  that  it  had  ever  been  the  abode  of  a 
human  being  or  beings.  Lawrence  Hastings,  cold- 
hearted  as  he  was,  could  not  banish  the  sweet,  sad 
vision  from  his  mind. 

When  he  and  the  physician  reached  the  Mead 
they  found  Mr.  Byrd  had  arrived,  and  was  in  the 
library  with  Mr.  Hampton.  It  was  now  late  in 
the  afternoon,  and  the  rain  had  ceased,  but  it  was 
still  dark  and  gloomy.  Mr.  Byrd  was  to  remain 
over  night,  and  his  horse  had  been  stabled.  Dr. 
Adams  was  to  go  on  a  few  miles  to  visit  another 
patient,  then  return  and  remain  over  night  also, 


128  THE     WILL. 

as  Mr.  nampton  wished  to  have  him  as  a  witness 
to  his  will.  Before  the  doctor  left,  Norva  was 
asleep.  Dr.  Adams  had  given  her  a  powerful 
narcotic ;  her  nerves  had  been  greatl}^  shocked,  he 
said ;  in  a  few  days  he  hoped  she  would  be  herself 
again. 

After  supper,  when  Mr.  Hampton  and  his 
attorney  had  again  repaired  to  the  library,  Law- 
rence Hastings  went  up  to  Octavia's  room  and 
asked  her  to  take  a  walk  with  him.  She  was  only 
too  anxious,  as  she  w^as  to  leave  him  for  a  time  on 
the  morrow.  When  they  returned,  a  happy  light 
beamed  from  her  eyes,  and  her  face  was  radiant 
with  a  look  of  deep  content.  After  leaving  her  at 
the  door  of  her  room  Lawrence  sought  his  father. 

The  elder  Hastings  was  pacing  his  room  with  a 
gloomy,  discontented  look  on  his  face. 

"  Halloo,  old  chap !  what  has  come  over  the 
spirit  of  your  dreams,  now  when  all  is  going  so 
well  with  me  ?  "  said  his  amiable  son,  with  a  low, 
deep  laugh  of  satisfaction ;  but  the  cloud  did  not 
lift  from  his  father  s  face,  even  at  the  mention  of 


THE     WILL.  129 

his  own  bright  prospects,  and  throwing  himself 
into  a  chair,  Lawrence  said  :  "Come,  old  man,  you 
have  something  preying  on  your  mind ;  out  with 
it ;  make  a  clean  breast  of  it ;  confession  is  good 
for  the  soul,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  you  are  right,  Lawrence,"  said  Mr. 
Hastings,  seating  himself  beside  his  son.  "  There 
is  something  preying  upon  my  mind,  and  as  you 
have  confided  your  j^lans  to  me,  I  will  return  the 
compliment  by  telling  you  of  a  little  episode  in 
my  life.  As  you  know,  Lawrence,  this  is  not  my 
first  visit  to  America :  I  was  here  when  you  were 
a  small  hoy.  Well,  to  make  a  long  story  short ;  I 
fell  in  love  with  a  pretty  little  Indian  maiden,  and 
coaxed  her  from  her  mother's  home.  But  she 
was  so  pure  and  virtuous,  that  I  was  compelled  to 
marrj'  her  before  she  would  consent  to  leave 
Norfolk  for  Richmond  with  me.  I  married  her 
under  an  assumed  name.  Shortly  after  I  reached 
Richmond  I  heard  that  Henry  Stanley  was  dead, 
and  his  widow  was  free.  I  had  married  your  mother 
for  money,  and  soon  after  her  death  I  went  to  Spain, 


130  THE     WILL. 

and  there  I  met  Octavia's  mother,  and  I  loved  her 
with  all  the  love  and  passion  of  my  soul,  but  she 
rejected  my  suit  and  married  Henry  Stanlej^  but 
after  I  had  married  this  Amy  Spots  wood,  and  I 
knew  the  first  love  of  my  youth  was  free  again, 
I  left  Amy  on  the  eve  of  becoming  a  mother,  and 
wrote  her  a  note  telling  her  to  return  to  her 
mother  at  Norfolk,  for  she  was  not  my  wife.  I 
then  hastened  back  to  England,  and  in  due  course 
of  time  married  Mrs.  Stanley,  as  you  are  aware. 
I  married  her  at  the  time,  not  knowing  but  what 
I  had  a  living  wife  in  America,  but  she  only  lived 
four  months  after  I  left  her,  leaving  a  frail,  golden- 
haired  baby-girl  behind  her,  our  child,  to  whom 
she  gave  the  name  of  Amy — Amy  Le  Clare,  as 
that  was  the  name  I  married  her  under." 

Lawrence  Hastings  started  back  in  great  sur- 
prise, and  said : 

"  This  is  a  strange  story,  sir.  How  do  you 
know  all  this?  who  informed  you  of  that  young 
girl's  death,  and  of  her  child  ?  " 

"  Her  grandmother,  Hester  Spotswood.     I  have 


THE     WILL.  131 

met  her  several  times  prowling  around  Hampton 
Mead.  She  never  saw  me  in  Virginia,  but  she  con- 
fided all  this  to  me,  and  she  sajs  she  is  going  to 
find  Amy's  father  and  bring  him  to  judgment,  for 
she  has  pledged  herself  to  have  a  terrible  revenge 
on  this  man,  and  her  indignation  fills  me  with 
alarm." 

Lawrence  remembered  the  laugh,  for  he  and 
Norva  had  heard  it. 

"  Lawrence,"  resumed  the  old  gentleman,  '^  I  am 
glad  to  leave  this  neighborhood  on  the  morrow, 
for  a  time  at  least." 


132  LADY     HESTER. 


A 


CHAPTER  Xy. 

LADY     HESTER. 


FEW  miles  from  the   great  manufacturing 


town  of  Manchester  was  situated  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  homes  in  England — Glen  Park. 
For  generations  and  generations  it  had  belonged  to 
the  Glenmores.  The  last  of  that  name  had  passed 
away,  and  the  estate  had  gone  into  the  possession 
of  a  woman.  She  was  a  tall,  dark  woman,  of 
middle  age,  with  eyes  as  dark  as  night,  and  hair 
outrivalling  the  blackness  of  the  raven's  wing. 

It  is  January,  and  one  year  since  Walter 
Hampton  persuaded  Amy  Le  Clare  to  leave  her 
grandmother  and  become  his  wife,  and  on  this 
bleak  January  day,  Amy,  fair  and  pale  as  a  lily, 
lies  in  a  darkened  room  at  Glen  Park.  She  lies 
so  still  you  can  hardly  tell  if  she  breathes.  Pier 
grandmother  comes  in  softly  and  puts  her  dark 
cheek  down  to  the  face  of  the  sleeper,  then  she 


LADY     HESTER.  133 

goes  to  a  little  crib  and  looks  down  on  Amy's 
innocent  baby-boy,  and  her  face  becomes  stern 
and  hard  as  she  gazes  upon  its  little  head  covered 
with  rich,  dark,  silky  brown  hair,  and  Lady 
Hester  Spotswood  glided  out  of  the  room  with  a 
fierce  light  shining  in  her  eyes. 

Perhaps,  dear  reader,  you  are  surprised  to  find 
Hester  Spotswood  in  England,  and  the  mistress  of 
Glen  Park,  but  the  following  wdll  explain  her 
presence  here:  Hester's  father,  just  before  his 
death,  became  the  heir  of  Glen  Park,  and  as  she 
w^as  his  only  child  he  forgave  her,  and  left  her  heir 
to  his  beautiful  English  home.  Her  father  w^as  the 
Earl  of  Glenmore,  and  now  his  daughter  is  Lady 
Hester  Spotswood.  When  Hester  learned  of  her 
sudden  w^ealth,  through  the  death  of  her  father, 
she  commenced  searchino;  for  Am  v.  She  tracked 
Walter  to  the  cave  where  they  had  lived  for 
months. 

During  Walter  s  absence  she  had  gone  into  the 
cave  to  see  Amy,  and  asked  her  if  she  were  Wal- 
ter   Hampton's   wife.      Amy's    face    had    burned 


134  LADY     HESTER. 

crimson,  and   her   eyes   sought   the   floor  of  the 
rocky  cavern,  as  she  said : 

"  Dear  grandmother,  I  cannot  tell  you." 

"  Cannot  tell  me,  Amy !  My  God !  oh  !  Amy, 
Amy !  how  heavily  the  curse  has  fallen  on  me, 
and  on  your  mother,  and  now  you  too  are 
doomed!'^ 

Then  Hester  fell  upon  her  knees  in  that  lonely 
mountain  fastness,  and  her  voice  rang  out  in  a 
wail  of  anguish. 

When  Hester  looked  in  Amy's  face  again,  she 
saw  all  the  blood  had  left  the  girl's  face,  and  she 
was  as  white  as  marble,  and  her  voice  was  sad,  as 
she  said,  "  Oh,  dear  grandmother,  do  not  take  this 
so  to  heart ;  trust  in  my  dear  Walter  to  make  all 
right  soon ! " 

Hester  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  her  eyes  flashed 
fire,  as  she  said,  " '  Make  all  right  soon  ! ' — right  a 
wrong  like  yours.  I  blame  you,  Amy — blood  of 
my  blood,  and  flesh  of  my  flesh  ;  but  I  blame 
Walter  Hampton  more!  Come  with  me,  my  child, 
and  we  will  leave  this  country  and  go  to  a  foreign 


LADY     HESTER.  135 

land,  and  live  for  ourselves  and  the  good  we  can 
do  for  others." 

"  But,  dear  grandmother,  I  cannot  leave  Walter ; 
oh,  no  !  I  cannot  leave  Walter ! " 

Hester  trembled  from  head  to  foot,  as  she  said, 
"Amy,  say  nothing  to  Mr.  Hampton  of  my  being 
here,  and  I  will  come  again  in  a  few  days,"  and 
she  then  took  her  leave. 

But  early  on  the  morning  that  Walter  went  to 

B ,  and  Lawrence  Hastings  had  explored  the 

cave,  Hester  had  been  there.  Amy  was  not  well, 
and  her  grandmother  prepared  her  some  food, 
which  she  left,  saying  she  should  return  ere  the 
night-shadow  fell  again.  Half  an  hour  after 
Hester  Spotswood  took  her  departure,  Lawrence 
Hastings  found  the  cold,  still  form  of  Amy,  as  the 
reader  already  knows. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Hester 
returned.  She  tied  her  canoe  to  a  tree,  and  took 
out  a  pair  of  soft,  v/hite  blankets  which  lay  in  the 
frail  barque,  also  an  extra  one  to  spread  over  the 
form  she  expected  to  recline  beneath  it.      After 


136  LADY     HESTER. 

making  flist  her  canoe,  she  spread  the  blankets 
smoothly  upon  the  floor  of  her  canoe,  and  went 
into  the  cave,  where  she  found  ber  granddaughter, 
just  as  Lawrence  Hastings  had  left  her,  cold,  pale 
and  still,  with  the  delicate  white  hands  lying  on 
her  breast,  and  her  orolden  hair  fallins;  like  a  halo 
about  her  sweet,  childish  face.  When  she  looked 
upon  Amy,  a  smile  of  triumph  wreathed  her  cold, 
proud  lips,  and  she  said,  "  It  is  well ;  the  drug  I' 
gave  her  has  had  the  desired  effect;  she  will  sleep 
until  I  get  her  miles  and  miles  from  Hampton 
Mead  and  the  ^dear  AValter'  she  talks  so  much 
about." 

We  will  not  tarry  longer  with  details  as  to  how 
Hester  Spotswood  reached  Philadelphia  with  her 
granddaughter. 

The  day  upon  which  Walter  had  taken  Amy 
from  her  grandmother's  cabin,  Hester  Spotswood 
had  gone  to  Mr.  Field's  house  to  do  some  work, 
and  while  there,  Mr.  Field  brought  a  newspaper 
from  the  post-office,  containing  an  advertisement 
requesting  Hester  Spotswood  to  call  on  her  father's 


LADY     HESTER.  137 

old  business  managers,  "  Sparks  &  Wind."  So, 
after  returning  to  her  lonely  wayside  cabin,  and 

finding  Amy  had  disappeared,  she  went  to  B , 

and  took  the  staiie  for  Wihiiini'ton.  All  this  had 
taken  time;  but  when  she  became  fully  aware  of 
her  duty  to  her  grandchild,  and  had  considered 
the  matter  well,  she  felt  that  she  could  not  leave 
America  without  at  least  looking  upon  Amj-'s  face 
again,  and  she  went  to  work  to  find  her;  and  now 
that  she  had  succeeded,  and  believing  her  not  to 
be  Walter's  wife,  she  determined  to  carry  Amy -to 
England,  and  there  induce  her  to  lead  a  better 
life;  for  she  fully  believed  Amy  Le  Clare  had 
sinned.  She  kept  Amy  under  the  influence  of  a 
powerful  but  harmless  drug  known  to  her,  until 
they  were  far  out  at  sea.  Even  up  to  the  morn- 
ing we  find  them  at  Glen  Park,  Amy's  system  was 
seldom  free  from  the  effects  of  this  drug. 

It  was  almost  an  overwhelming  shock  to  Lady 
Hester,  wdien  she  discovered  that  Amj'  would  in 
time  become  a  mother ;  but  she  was  compelled  to 
make  the  best  of  her  unfortunate  situation.     She 


138  LADY     HESTER. 

led  a  quiet,  retired  life  at  Glen  Park  with  her 
servants,  a  trusty  land-agent  looking  after  her 
tenants,  of  whom  there  were  many. 

Lady  Hester  never  thought  of  entering  society. 
She  still  buried  her  bitter  sorrow  far  down  in  her 
troubled  heart,  and  waited  for  the  time  when  she 
should  avenge  her  beautiful  young  daugliters 
wrongs,  and  her  grandchild's.  She  felt  even  more 
bitter  this  morning,  when  this  little  innocent  babe 
w^as  placed  in  her  arms,  and  the  physician  told  her 
it  was  doubtful  if  the  young  child-mother  would 
live. 

Will  Lady  Hester  have  her  revenge  ?  and  what 
shape  will  it  take?  Will  poor  pale  Amy  ever 
again  see  Walter  Hampton  and  the  beautiful 
Mead,  far  away  among  the  North  Carolina  moun- 
tains ?  Not  if  Lady  Hester  can  prevent  it.  She 
disliked  to  be  addressed  as  "  my  lady,"  and  simply 
looked  upon  herself  as  Hester  Spotswood,  in  whose 
veins  the  purest  blood  of  America  flowed.  But 
custom  is  everything.  She  had  taken  up  her 
abode  for  the  present,  at  least,  in  England.     The 


LADY     HESTER.  139 

three  servants  she  retained  had  been  in  the  service 
of  Lord  Glenmore,  and  alwaj^s  addressed  her  as 
Ladv  Hester. 

When  she  thinks  of  her  days  in  America  when 
she  had  incurred  her  father's  displeasure  and  had 
received  his  curse,  and  of  all  the  bitter  dajs  she 
had  spent,  yet,  oh,  how  gladly  would  she  give  all 
this  grandeur  up,  and  return  again  to  America 
and  take  up  her  life  of  toil  and  hardships,  if  she 
could  only  have  her  Amy  an  innocent  child  again, 
sitting  at  her  knees  as  in  the  days  of  yore !  This 
she  thinks  can  never  be,  and  an  expression  of 
intense  suffering  sweeps  over  her  proud,  cold  face, 
as  she  again  seeks  the  room  of  the  young  mother 
and  child. 


140  LOST     AGAIN. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

LOST     AGAIN. 

EARLY  on  the  morning  after  the  making  of 
Mr.    Hampton's    will,    Mr.    Hastings    and 
Octavia    Stanley   left    Hampton    Mead    for    the 

village  of  B .     Octavia  had  never  passed  over 

this  road  before,  and  though  she  was  a  great 
admirer  of  the  beautiful,  had  given  no  thought  to 
the  God  who  made  the  mountains  in  all  their 
grandeur  and  magnificence ;  the  proud  and 
majestic  blue  rivers,  threading  their  way  over 
great  rocks  and  falling  in  silver  cascades,  making 
sweet  music  as  they  ripple  on  their  way  to  the 
sea.       We    love    to    linger    over    this    road    from 

Hampton  Mead  to    B ,  where  we    cross    two 

of  the  most  beautiful  mountain  rivers  in  the 
world,  and  where  the  author  of  this  book  has 
spent  so  many,  many  happy  days  in  childhood 
rowing  a  frail  canoe,  and,  even  as  an  untaught 


LOST   AGAIN.  141 

child,  felt  the  Q:lorv  and  o^oodness  of  God  in 
bestowing  so  much  beauty  around  our  childhood's 
home. 

We  will  not  follow  Mr.  Hastings  and  Octavia 

beyond  B ,  for  after  that  much  of  the  rugged 

beauty  of  the  landscape  is  lost.  We  will  now 
follow  Walter  Hampton  for  a  time.  Bidding  his 
father  good-bye,  Walter  had  Whirlwind  saddled, 
and  when  he  was  brought  round,  mounted  and 
rode  away  in  a  brisk  gallop  up  the  river's  side. 
He  went  to  the  mountain  cave,  which  Lawrence 
Hastin2:s  had  visited,  but  there  w^as  no  one  there 
to  give  him  a  glad  welcome,  no  low,  soft,  musical 
voice  to  express  gladness  at  his  coming.  All  was 
as  quiet  as  the  grave. 

A  cold,  strange,  awed  feeling  came  over  him,  and 
his  young  heart  wailed  forth  :  "Oh,  Amy  !  Amy! 
my  darling,  where  are  you?"  And  w^ith  a  pale, 
ha2:irard  face  he  left  the  cave,  remounted  his  horse, 

and  started  off  in  the  direction  of  B .     He  was 

going  to  see  Hester  Spotswood ;  he  felt  that  she 
had   something  to  do  with  Amy's  disappearance, 


142  LOST    AGAIN. 

but  when  he  reached  her  wayside-hut  he  found 
it  deserted.  He  then  w^ent  to  Mr.  Field's,  at 
Cedar  Yale,  and  made  inquiries  of  them.  But 
they  said  she  had  not  been  there  for  several 
weeks ;  that  of  late  she  had  acted  very  strangely, 
since  her  granddaughter  had  disappeared  some 
months  before.  He  went  on  to  the  crossing  of  the 
river,  at  the  point  where  his  horse  had  so  nobly 
carried  Amy  and  himself.  When  he  had  crossed 
the  river  he  sat  down  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen 
tree,  Avhere  he  had  sat  before  with  his  dear, 
unconscious  burden,  after  he  had  succeeded  in 
getting  her  out  of  the  water. 

How  vividly  this  scene  arose  before  him  now ! 
the  golden  hair  falling  over  his  arm,  with  the 
snowy  lids  covering  the  brown  eyes,  with  deep 
purple  rings  settled  beneath  them,  and  water 
issuing  from  the  pallid  lips,  and  the  small  hands 
clenched  and  blue.  After  working  with  her  for 
some  time — oh,  the  unspeakable  joy  he  felt  when 
he  saw  the  eyelids  quiver  and  a  faint  sigh  escape 
her  cold  lips,  and    a  fervent   "  Thank  God  !    my 


LOST     AGAIN.  143 

Amy  is  spared  me  !  "  came  from  Walter.  All  this 
comes  back  to  him  now. 

Where  was  his  loved  one  now?  The  soft  south 
winds  seemed  to  whisper  to  his  young  troubled 
heart,  "  Seek  for  her  until  you  find  her."  Then 
it  was  not  as  it  is  now.  The  voice  of  the  steam- 
engine  had  not  echoed  over  the  hills  and  moun- 
tains as  they  do  to-day.  They  could  not  step  into 
a  telegraph  office  and  send  a  message  to  all  parts  of 
the  world.     After  sitting  there  for  a  while,  Walter 

resolved  to  ride  on  to  B ,  and  spend  the  night 

at  the  hotel.  He  found  several  papers  on  a  table 
in  his  room,  and  when  the  waiter  brought  in 
lights  he  sat  down  to  look  at  them.  They  were 
dated  several  weeks  back;  and  on  the  first  of 
one  of  the  papers  this  notice  caught  his  eye  : 

"If  Hester  Spotswood  will  call  on  Sparks  & 
Wind,  she  will  hear  of  something  to  her  advan- 


tage. 


» 


Walter  looked  at  the  paper  for  some  time ;  then 
his  mind  was  made  up :  he  would  start  for 
Wilmington  on  the  morrow,  and  there  he  would 


144  LOST     AGAIN. 

find  his  Amy,  and  claim  her  at  once.  So  accord- 
ing to  his  intentions  he  took  the  stage-coach  early 
the  next  morning  and  began  his  tiresome  journey, 
leaving  his  horse  to  the  care  of  a  friend  until  his 
return.  Thus  we  find  young  Walter  Hampton 
drifting  from  his  home  ;  the  home  in  which  he  has 
no  place  now ;  the  old  haunts  that  knew  him 
once  will  know  him  no  more.  Does  the  old  stage- 
coach, as  it  rolls  along  over  the  rough,  uneven 
roads  and  through  pine  forests,  bring  him  any 
nearer  to  the  loved  one  he  seeks?  No;  for  at 
this  same  moment  Hester  Spotswood  and  Amy 
are  crossino-  the  mountains  into  Virginia. 

When  Walter  reached  Wilmington,  and  called 
on  Sparks  k  Wind,  and  they  refused  to  give 
him  any  information  concerning  Mrs.  Spotswood's 
whereabouts,  his  grief  knew  no  bounds ;  and  his 
poor  aching  heart  almost  broke  within  him. 

The  lawyers  had  been  requested  to  keep  her 
residence  in  England  a  secret  from  all  the  world, 
and  poor  Walter  left  their  ofhce  with  a  pale, 
haggard   face;    still   he   would    not   give    up   the 


LOST     AGAIN.  145 

search.  He  would  go  to  Norfolk,  to  the  place 
where  Mrs.  Spots  wood  used  to  live ;  perhaps  she 
had  carried  Amy  there.  Without  even  stopping 
long  enough  to  call  on  his  mother's  relatives,  he 
embarked  on  board  a  vessel  the  same  day.  When 
he  reached  Norfolk  it  was  only  to  be  disappointed, 
and  his  means  were  nearly  exhausted,  but  he  had 
a  fine  gold  watch  and  a  valuable  solitaire  diamond 
ring;  these  he  could  dispose  of,  and  they  would 
assist  him  in  continuing  his  search,  but  he  would 
not  dispose  of  them  in  Norfolk ;  he  could  get  more 
for  them  in  Philadelphia,  and  thither  he  deter- 
mined to  go.  When  he  reached  Philadelphia  he 
called  on  Charlie  Field,  who  was  delighted  to  see 
him,  but  when  he  took  Walter's  hand,  the  young 
medical  student  started,  and  said  : 

"  My  dear  fellow,  you  are  feverish ;  your  hand 
is  burning  with  fever,  and  your  face  is  pale  and 
careworn.  What  is  the  matter  with  our  healthful 
Carolina  mountains?  Yours  is  the  second  pale 
and  careworn  face  I  have  seen  from    there  this 

week." 
9 


146  LOST     AGAIK. 

"Whose  was  the  other?"  gasped  Walter, 
holding  his  breath  for  the  answer. 

"Amy  Le  Clare,"  said  Charlie. 

"Amy  Le  Clare  !  "  cried  Walter.  "  Where  did 
you  see  her  ?  "  hoarsely. 

"  I  saw  her  and  her  grandmother  go  on  board  a 
vessel  bound  for  Liverpool,  as  I  went  aboard  to 
see  a  friend  off  for  the  old  world." 

Walter  sank  down,  while  a  deadly  faintness 
overcame  him.  He  had  lived  in  a  state  of  great 
excitement  for  so  many  weeks,  and  the  shock  of 
losing  Amy  was  too  much  for  his  constitution, 
and  he  was  compelled  to  succumb  to  the  laws  of 
nature.  For  many  weeks  he  lay  with  fever 
burning  and  parching  his  body,  and  it  was  a  long 
time  before  he  could  walk  about,  let  alone  leave 
his  room,  but  Charlie  Field  watched  over  him 
with  all  the  care  and  devotion  of  a  tender  brother. 
When  Walter  got  better,  Charlie  never  hinted 
that,  when  delirious,  he  had  laid  bare  part  of  his 
heart's  trouble ;  but  only  a  part,  however,  for  he 
did  not  reveal  what  Amy  was  to  him. 


THE     MEAD     IS     DESERTED.  147 


CHAPTER  XYIL 

THE     MEAD     IS     DESERTED. 

IT  is  gloomy  at  Hampton  Mead.  The  window  « 
are  all  closed.  There  is  not  a  single  bit  of 
life  within  its  walls.  The  peaceful,  happy  home, 
and  contented  hearts  that  once  dwelt  there  are 
gone.  The  shadow  of  Norva's  life  was  deepened 
by  Walter's  banishment  from  his  home,  insomuch 
so  that  she  had  become  quite  ill,  and  Dr.  Adams 
had  advised  her  to  a  change  of  scene.  But 
Lawrence  Hastings  had  first  suggested  this  change 
to  the  honest  old  country  physician. 

At  first  Norva's  father  refused  to  give  her  up, 
but  a  peculiar  light  shone  from  her  husband's 
eyes,  as  he  said  : 

*^My  dear  sir,  your  daughter  is  all  you  have 
now.  Accompany  us,  and  we  will  try  to  cheer 
you  in  your  sorrow,"  and  he  lowered  his  voice  to 
the  softest  and  most  persuasive  tone. 


148  THE     MEAD     IS     DESERTED. 

The  suggestion  struck  Mr.  Hampton  favorably ; 
for  when  the  time  for  his  daughter's  departure 
came  he  had  made  his  arrangements  to  accompany 
her.  When  she  would  leave  the  Mead  there 
would  be  but  one  golden  link  to  bind  him  to 
his  once  happy  home ;  it  being  the  sacred  spot 
where  slept  his  wife,  the  mother  of  his  children. 
Now  we  find  him  about  to  leave  his  adopted  home 
and  return  to  old  England.  If  he  could  only  have 
seen  what  the  future  held  for  him  and  his,  he 
would  never  have  taken  that  journey.  Perhaps 
it  is  well  that  the  veil  of  the  present  hides  the 
face  of  the  future,  be  it  for  weal  or  woe.  Mr. 
Hampton  had  grown  very  old  in  the  last  few 
weeks;  his  hair  had  scarcely  a  thread  of  silver 
in  it  when  Lawrence  had  taken  up  his  abode  at 
Hampton  Mead,  now  they  were  thickly  sprinkled 
through  it. 

He  had  given  strict  orders  to  his  household 
never  to  mention  the  name  of  his  banished  son  in 
his  presence.  This  was  rather  a  hard  task  with 
the  negroes,  who  had   known  and  loved  Walter 


THE     MEAD     IS     DESERTED.  149 

from  his  birth,  and  especially  for  Mammy  Silvia, 
wliose  wrath,  when  she  learned  how  matters  stood, 
knew  no  bounds.  A  morning  or  two  after  the 
making  of  Mr.  Hampton's  will,  she  went  to  her 
master's  room  and  fell  on  her  knees  at  his  feet. 

"  What  is  it.  Aunt  Silvia  ? "  said  he,  huskily ; 
for  he  surmised  why  the  old  faithful  creature  was 
there. 

"Oh,  marster!  for  de  lub  ob  heben,  where  is 
my  boy?  where  is  dear  Massa  Walter,  my  dear 
mistess  first  horned  ?  Oh,  marster !  have  you 
cast  him  off,  driven  him  from  his  home,  an'  taken 
dat  ar  cussady  debil  of  a  Mr.  Hastings  in  his 
place  ?  Oh,  marster,  do  send  for  my  dear  lubly 
boy  to  come  home.  If  you  don't,  his  moder  will 
rise  from  de  grave,  an'  'cuse  you  ob  dis  great 
wrong." 

Mr.  Hampton  grew  cold  and  pale  as  Silvia 
spoke,  and  his  voice  trembled  with  agitation,  as 
he  said : 

"  Silvia,  Walter  Hampton  is  dead  to  me  hence- 
forth, or  as  one  that  had  never   been;    and  one 


150  THE     MEAD     IS     DESERTED. 

that  has  never  been  we  cannot  name.  Therefore, 
in  the  future,  consider  my  son  Lawrence  your 
young  master,  which  he  will  be  some  day  if  you 
and  he  live." 

"  God  forbid ! "  said  Silvia.  "  When  dat  ar  day 
comes,  master,  I  shall  be  all  debil.  Dear  marster, 
I  has  pleaded  to  you  for  my  chile  in  vain.  Now 
let  me  tell  3'ou  something,  'case  a  'sentment  has 
come  ober  me.  You  has  cast  my  chile  from  your 
heart,  but  he  an'  his  will  yet  rule  at  Hampton 
Mead.  De  debil  will  not  always  rule  at  large ;  he 
will  be  tied  up  some  ob  dese  days;  den  Marster 
Walter  will  hab  his  own.  Do  you  mind  what  I 
say,  ole  massa  ?  " 

Mr.  Hampton  came  to  Silvia's  side  and  whispered 
in  her  ear.  The  old  woman  fell  over  on  the  floor 
and  moaned  like  one  bereft  of  her  reason.  She 
did  not  mention  Walter's  name  again  from  that 
day  to  the  time  when  Mr.  Hampton,  her  master, 
started  on  his  journey,  and  for  many  days  her  face 
wore  a  gray,  ashen  hue,  occasioned  by  great  mental 
suffering.     The  servants  attributed  it  to  her  losing 


THE     MEAD     IS     DESERTED.  151 

their  young  mistress  and  master,  for  they  knew  how 
dear  they  were  to  her.  But  Silvia  never  enUght- 
ened  any  one  of  them  as  to  the  cause  of  her  grief, 
not  even  Isom  Turner,  her  husband.  At  times 
she  would  almost  cry  out  with  horror  when  that 
thought  of  crime  came  up  before  her.  She  lived 
in  fear  of  betraying,  by  word  or  deed,  the  only 
great  secret  of  her  life,  for  it  involved  the  wel- 
fare of  another  for  whom  she  would  willingly 
have  died. 

Lawrence  wrote  to  his  father  and  Octavia  to 
take  a  vessel  from  New  Orleans  to  New  York, 
where  he  and  his  wife  and  father-in-law  w^ould 
meet  by  the  first  of  September. 

The  morning  on  which  they  started  was  beauti- 
ful in  the  extreme.  Never  did  the  mountains 
look  more  grand  and  majestic  than  upon  that 
morning — with  the  glorious  rays  of  the  rising  sun 
gilding  their  emerald  tops,  and  the  sky  so  clear  in 
its  azure  depths.  Never  did  the  trees  look  greener, 
the  flowers  bloom  sweeter,  or  the  birds  sing  more 
sweetly  than  upon  that  morning.     It  seemed   as 


152  THE     MEAD     IS     DESERTED. 

thongli  all  nature  had  united  in  offering  its  beauty 
and  sublimity  as  a  tribute  to  those  leaving  Hamp- 
ton Mead.  Never  did  it  appear  more  beautiful  to 
poor,  pale  Norva,  as  she  lay  back  in  the  carriage, 
with  a  troubled  face,  and  a  sad  look  in  her  eyes. 
When  would  she  see  this  beautiful  scenery  again? 

Ah!  when?     Mr.  Hampton  was  sad  also. 

Lawrence  took  his  wife's  cold  hands  in  his  and 
said : 

"Do  not  look  so  sad,  my  darling.  When  we 
return  to  Hampton  Mead,  the  roses  of  health  will 
be  blooming  on  your  cheeks,  as  they  were  when  I 
first  met  you,"  and  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  hers, 
she  smiled  up  into  his  face.  It  was  strange — but 
of  late  Norva  never  smiled,  only  when  the  eyes  of 
her  husband  were  fixed  upon  her. 


IN     LONDON.  153 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

IN     LONDON. 

IMMEDIATELY  after  reaching  New  York,  the 
party  went  on  board  of  a  vessel  bound  for 
Liverpool,  at  which  place  they  duly  arrived. 
After  a  few  days'  rest  they  went  to  London,  and 
lived  in  a  hotel  there.  In  a  few  days  after  they 
had  become  somewhat  rested  and  interested  in 
their  new  surroundinirs,  Mrs.  Hastin2:s  benan  to  be 
more  cheerful  than  she  had  been  for  many  weeks ; 
and  when  Octavia  saw  the  delicate  color  steal- 
ing into  her  face,  and  the  soft  tender  light  into 
her  eyes,  her  soul  was  troubled.  Octavia  had  lost 
none  of  her  rare,  bewitching  beauty,  but  was 
becoming  thin  and  pale. 

There  was  no  congeniality  of  feeling  between 
Norva  and  Octavia.  Mrs.  Hastinijs  tried  to  love 
Octavia  for  her  husband's  sake,  but  could  not;  and 


154  IN     LONDON. 

Octavia  hated  Norva  so  deeply  that  she  shunned 
her  as  much  as  possible.  One  morning,  Norva 
said  to  her  husband : 

''  Dear  Lawrence,  do  you  not  feel  alarmed  about 
Octavia?" 

"Wherefore  alarmed,  my  dear  wife?"  said  he, 
quickly. 

"Because  you  love  her  so  much,  and  I  think 
she  is  going  into  a  consumption,"  said  Norva, 
gently. 

As  she  spoke,  every  vestige  of  color  left  her 
husband's  face,  and  he  hissed  forth:  "You  lie, 
madam,  Octavia  cannot  die,"  and  he  trembled 
with  deep  emotion.  Norva  recoiled  back  in  alarm, 
as  if  the  man  before  her  was  insane. 

Lawrence  quickly  remembered  himself,  and 
going  up  to  his  wife  he  fell  upon  his  knees  at  her 
feet,  and  the  voice  that  spoke  was  calm  and  soft, 
as  he  said  : 

"  My  dear,  dear  wafe,  forgive  me.  I  know  I 
have  acted  like  a  brute:  but  your  words  filled  me 
with  alarm,  and  made  me  very  angry.     I  should 


IN     LONDON.  155 

rather  thank  you  for  speaking  to  me  about 
Octavia  with  so  much  interest.  She  is  the  play- 
mate of  my  childhood.  She  is  too  beautiful  to 
die,"  and  in  speaking  of  the  beautj^  of  Octavia,  a 
change  came  over  this  man's  face,  a  change  so 
great  that  his  wife  could  not  help  seeing,  and  she 
sunk  down  into  the  nearest  chair,  pale,  weak  and 
trembling.  Her  white  lips  parted  to  speak,  but 
her  husband  came  and  took  her  cold  hands  in  his, 
and  smiled  down  sweetly  into  her  face.  His  eyes 
sought  hers  as  he  said :  "  My  love,  my  wife,  are 
you  ill?" 

In  a  moment  the  color  came  back  into  her  face 
as  she  smiled  back  on  him  and  said :  "  No,  dear, 
I  am  not  ill,  just  a  little  faint,"  and  he  gathered 
her  to  his  heart  and  pressed  kiss  after  kiss  upon 
her  sweet  face;  and  even  then  he  was  exulting 
in  his  power  over  her.  A  few  more  days  and  he 
felt  he  would  be  in  a  fair  way  to  realize  his  cher- 
ished hopes. 

After  this  scene,  harmony  was  restored  again 
between  husband  and  wife.     The  next  day  father 


156  IN     LONDON. 

and  son  left  London,  the  latter  going  to  Corn- 
wall, and  Lis  father  to  Manchester.  They  were 
absent  nearly  three  weeks,  and  both  reached 
London  on  the  same  day.  They  did  not  go  to 
their  hotel  at  once,  however,  but  entered  a  club- 
house which  both  had  frequented.  Here  father 
and  son  compared  notes. 

"  Well,  old  chap,"  said  Lawrence,  familiarly, 
after  he  had  taken  a  glass  or  two  of  wine, 
"what  success?" 

"  Splendid,  my  dear  Lawrence,  splendid ;  I 
have  found  just  the  place.  Lind  Hurst  is  one  of 
the  most  secure  places  of  the  kind  in  England ; 
and  also  one  of  the  most  beautiful." 

"  I  hope  you  have  everything  in  readiness  at 
Castle  Rook  ?  "  resumed  Mr.  Hastings. 

"  Yes ;  all  is  fair  and  bright  in  that  quarter.  I 
have  employed  old  Delgardo  to  look  after  my 
business  at  Castle  Rook,  and  you  know  he  is  to  be 
depended  upon.  Li  him  and  Jessine,  his  wife,  we 
can  put  the  greatest  confidence.  I  have  no  fears 
in  that  direction,"  said  Lawrence,  as  he  replen- 
ished his  glass. 


IN     LONDON.  157 

''  It's  a  nice  thing,  governor,  as  they  say 
in  America,  to  marry  a  fortune.  The  time 
was  when  we  could  not  afford  to  indulge  in 
anything  of  this  kind,"  and  as  he  spoke  he  held 
up  a  decanter. 

"  Now  that  we  have  come  to  an  understanding 
we  had  better  repair  to  our  hotel  and  see  how  our 
plans  will  work,"  laughed  young  Hastings,  as  the 
two  men  left  the  club-house. 

When  the  lamps  were  lighted  for  the  night, 
Lawrence  knocked  softly  at  Octavia's  door, 
and  was  admitted.  There  was  another  such 
meeting  as  we  have  seen  before  at  Hampton 
Mead,  in  the  far  off  mountains  of  North  Caro- 
lina. Lawrence  clasped  Oct  a  via  in  his  strong 
arms,  and  held  her  close  to  his  throbbing 
heart,  while  he  said  in  the  most  affectionate 
tones : 

"  My  darling,  it  is  done.  A  few  more  days, 
and  we  will  know  the  joys  and  realities  of 
earthly  bliss.  Then,  my  darling,  your  every 
wish    shall    be   gratified.     Have    I  not  redeemed 


158  IN     LONDON. 

the  promise  I  made  you  one  year  ago  ? "  said  he, 
straining  her  to  him. 

"  Not  quite,"  said  she,  as  she  looked  into  his 

eyes  and  smiled.  "  I  will  tell  you  better  a 
week  hence,  dear  Lawrence,"  and  she  rested  her 
head  upon  his  bosom. 


THE     MASK     FALLS.  159. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE     MASK     FALLS. 

IMAGINE  the  lonely  rock-bound  coast  of  Corn- 
wall, with  no  appearance  of  life  to  redeem 
the  dull  monotony  of  the  everlasting  waves,  as 
they  lash  themselves  into  fury  against  the  dark- 
gray  rocks  of  an  old  tumble-down  castle,  which  has 
not  been  inhabited  for  years.  A  more  isolated  spot 
could  scarcely  be  found.  A  massive  wall  that 
surrounded  the  castle  on  three  sides  had  lately 
been  repaired.  No  vessel  of  any  kind  ever  came 
near  this  dreary  ocean  prison ;  not  even  light 
fishing-crafts  hardly  ever  hove  in  sight  of  it. 

One  dismal,  dreary  winter  night,  a  carriage 
drew  up  at  this  old  castle,  and  Lawrence  Hastings 
alighted  and  knocked  sharply  upon  the  great  iron 
gate  with  the  head  of  his  cane.  Going  back  to 
the  carriage,  he  said  to  his  wife : 

"  My  love,  it  is  growing  very  dark '  and  chill ; 


160  THE     MASK     FALLS. 

we  will  stop  here  over  night,  and  go  on  next 
morning.  I  know  the  old  couple  who  stay  here, 
and  we  shall  be  treated  with  great  courtesy." 

''  Lawrence,  what  is  that  dull,  mournful  sound  I 
hear?  It  chills  my  very  soul!"  said  Norva,  with 
a  sickenino:  shudder. 

'^  The  wind  is  high,  love,  and  it  is  the  waves 
lashins;  asrainst  the  rocks  and  walls  of  the  castle." 
said  Lawrence,  lis^htlv. 

"Oh,  husband  !  I  shall  die,  if  I  have  to  listen 
to  that  sound  long ;  I  would  rather  go  on  to 
your  beautiful  home,  and  be  exposed  to  the 
rain  and  storm  on  the  road,  than  to  seek  shelter 
here." 

"  Do  not  be  nervous  and  unreasonable,  my  dar- 
ling," said  Hastings,  in  a  tone  of  anxiety.  "  In 
the  morning  the  wind  and  rain  will  have  ceased, 
and  we  shall  soon  reach  our  destination.  Then 
you  will  feel  ashamed  of  your  cowardice.  There 
is  little  romance  in  your  composition,  I  fear ;  for 
my  part,  I  love  to  listen  to  the  sound  that  is  so 
disagreeable  to  you.     The  more  noise  the  waves 


THE     MASK     FALLS.  IGl 

make  as  thev  beat  a2:ainst  the  rocks,  the  sweeter 
the  music  is." 

Just    then    the    gate   flew   open,    and   a   man 
appeared  carrying  a  lantern. 

^' What   is  wanted?"  said  a  deep,  gruff  voice, 
with  a  strong  foreign  accent. 

Hastings  went  forward,  and  said : 

"Ah  !  Delgardo  !  is  that  you  ?  " 

^'Who  calls  my  name?"  said  the  man  thus 
addressed. 

"Have  you  forgotten  me,  my  kind  old  friend?" 
said  Lawrence,  laus^hins:. 

"  Oh,  now  I  know  you,  Mr.  Hastings.  Come  in 
out  of  this  storm  ;  it  is  fearful.  I  thought  you 
were  in  America.  My  old  wife  will  be  overjoyed 
to  know  that  you  have  returned.  I  suppose  you 
are  on  your  way  to  your  old  home,  the  Morelands  ? 
But  come  in.  By  yourself,  as  usual?"  said  Del- 
gardo,  and  he  turned  his  swarthy  face  away  from, 
the  light  he  held  in  his  hand  as  he  spoke. 

Hastings  gave  a  low,  soft  laugh,  as  he  replied  : 

"No,  Delgardo,  I  am  not  alone;  my  wife  is  with 
10 


162  THE     MASK     FALLS. 

me ;  and  as  the  storm  is  severe,  I  hope  jou  and 
your  wife  can  give  us  comfortable  shelter  for  the 
night." 

"  Of  course,  signor.  We  always  have  a  room 
for  you;  and  my  good  wife  will  be  delighted  to 
hear  there  is  a  fair  signora.  But  the  storm 
increases.     Come  in,  Signor  Hastings." 

Lawrence  w^ent  up  to  the  carriage  door  and 
opened  it,  saying,  "Alight,  dear  Norva ;  you  will 
soon  be  secure  from  the  storm,  within  the  walls 
of  Castle  Rook." 

Norva  obeyed  her  husband;  and  as  her  small 
feet  came  in  contact  with  the  ground,  a  cold  sensa- 
tion pervaded  her  whole  being,  and  she  clung  to 
her  husband's  arm.  They  passed  through  the 
gate,  and  it  swung  shut  with  a  dull,  heavy  sound. 
A  moment  more  and  they  entered  the  portals  of 
Castle  Rook. 

They  were  met  in  the  wide  corridor  by  old 
'Jessine,  who  started  back  in  well-feigned  surprise, 
saying,  "Can  this  be  Signor  Hastings?  It  is 
months  since  we  have  seen  your  handsome  face 


THE     MASK     FALLS.  163 

and  sweet  Mademoiselle  Stanley."  She  gave  Norva 
a  keen,  sharp  look,  and  said,  "  Not  Mademoiselle 
Stanley?" 

"  No,"  Hastings  hastened  to  say ;  "  this  beauti- 
ful lady  is  my  wife,  Jessine,  whom  I  found  in 
the  wilds  of  America  since  last  you  saw  me,  and 
we  claim  your  hosj^itality  for  the  night.  I  know, 
as  of  old,  you  will  make  us  welcome." 

"  That  we  will.  Monsieur  Hastings.  Come 
right  in  to  this  room,  where  we  have  a  good  fire ; 
Madam  looks  cold  and  tired." 

As  the  old  woman  spoke  she  opened  a  door  to 
her  right,  bade  them  enter,  placed  her  candle  on 
the  table,  and  drew  a  large  easy-chair  for  Norva 
up  near  the  fire ;  then  telling  her  guests  to  make 
themselves  comfortable,  w^ent  out  to  prepare  their 
supper.  Jessine  shot  a  meaning  look  in  Lawrence 
Hastings'  face  as  she  was  leaving  the  room,  and 
he  smiled  blandly  back  in  her  face. 

When  she  was  gone,  Hastings  said,  "  Is  this  not 
better  than  being  exposed  to  the  storm  and  dark- 
ness?" and  he  took  her  cold  hands  in  his  and 
looked  down  into  her  frightened  eyes. 


164  THE     MASK     FALLS. 

"  Yes,  better,"  she  replied,  wearily ;  "  but,  oh ! 
how  sadly  the  sea  beats  against  the  walls !  We 
must  leave  this  j)lace  early  in  the  morning ;  shall 
we  not?  That  old  French  woman  frightens  me 
with  her  evil-looking  face." 

Lawrence  laughed  a  soft,  low  laugh,  and  said, 
^^Yes,  darling,  w^e  will  leave  here  early  in  the 
morning,  and  reach  Morelands  for  breakfast.  My 
people  will  be  greatly  disappointed  because  we  did 
not  get  there  to-night;  but  it  cannot  be  helped." 

In  a  little  while  old  Jessine  returned  to  the 
room  bearing  a  large  tray  of  cold  meats,  fish,  rolls, 
and  rich  coffee. 

For  less  than  ten  minutes  after  her  meal  Norva 
reclined  in  her  chair,  and  a  strange,  sweet  feeling 
stole  over  her,  and  in  a  little  while  was  in  a  deep 
sleep ;  so  profound  was  her  slumber  she  forgot  all 
her  troubles  and  fears  of  the  old  castle  and  the 
grim  face  of  old  Dame  Delgardo. 

When  Lawrence  saw  how  profoundly  she  was 
sleeping,  he  went  to  the  door  and  motioned  old 
Jessine  to  follow  him.     When  they  were  out  of 


THE     MASK     FALLS.  165 

the  room,  he  said,  ^*  You  have  been  faithful  to  me, 
Jessine.  Do  you  and  Delgardo  prove  as  faithful 
in  the  future  as  you  have  in  the  past,  and  your 
reward  shall  be  munificent.  Let  us  find  the  old 
man,  and  I  will  pay  you  and  him  the  price  agreed 
upon." 

''  Many  thanks,  monsieur,"  said  Jessine.  "  You 
can  trust  Delgardo  and  me !  Did  I  not  nurse  you 
at  my  breast  in  your  infancy?  Shall  I  desert 
you  now  ?  " 

When  they  reached  the  room  in  which  Delgardo 
was  seated,  smoking  his  pipe  by  the  fire,  Hastings 
drew  a  roll  of  bank  notes  from  his  pocket  and 
handed  them  to  Delgardo. 

"  More  w^ill  be  furnished  you  bye-and-bye.  You 
have  full  instructions — follow  them.  I  have  no 
time  to  lose.  Everything  is  settled,"  he  said, 
quickly,  and  left  the  old  man  and  woman  and 
returned  to  the  room  where  he  left  his  wife. 

Norva's  head  had  fallen  back,  and  her  face  w^as 
pale  as  death.  Lawrence  took  her  hand ;  it  w^as 
as  cold  as  ice.     He  removed  all  her  jewels  from 


166  THE     MASK     FALLS. 

her  person,  took  her  purse  from  her  pocket,  and 
the  costly  ruby  comb  from  her  head,  placing 
them  in  the  breast-pocket  of  his  coat,  and,  with  a 
low,  mocking  bow,  said,  "Fare  thee  well,  Mrs. 
Lawrence  Hastings !  Where  and  when  shall  we 
next  meet  ?  "  and,  with  a  fiendish  smile  darkening 
his  face,  glided  from  the  room. 


I     WILL     WAIT.  167 


CHAPTER    XX. 

1     WILL     WAIT. 

IT  was  a  lovely  summer's  day.  The  sun  shone 
down  on  Glen  Park  with  full  brilliancy. 
The  merry  birds  sang  from  the  branches  of  the 
leafy  trees,  and  all  nature  seemed  to  rejoice. 
The  scent  of  new-mown  hay,  mingled  with  the 
delicate  odor  of  blossoms,  was  wafted  by  the  soft 
summer  breeze  into  Lady  Hester  Spotswood's 
sitting-room.  A  very  pretty  room  it  was — large, 
light  and  airy,  with  a  southern  aspect,  and  fur- 
nished with  exquisite  taste.  The  view  from  the 
open  window  was  beautiful  in  the  extreme.  You 
could  look  far  off  over  fields  of  sweet-scented  hay, 
and  also  have  a  gaze  on  a  lovely  flower  garden 
where  thousands  of  sv/eet  flowers  unfolded  their 
fragrance  to  the  breeze. 

Lady  Hester,  the  stately  half-breed,  is  not  look- 
inf^  at  the  meadows  or  the  flowers.     She  is  gazing 


168  I     WILL     WAIT. 

intently  on  a  graceful  figure  robed  in  white  muslin, 
playing  with  a  sunny  boy  eighteen  months  old. 
A  shadow  gathers  over  the  lady's  face,  and  low, 
half  inaudible  words  fall  from  her  lips ;  then  aloud 
she  says :  "  How  very  beautiful  my  darling  Amy 
is !  Is  there  another  in  England  half  so  fair  ?  and 
her  child,  my  great-grandchild,  he,  too,  is  beau- 
tiful. But  he  has  the  face  of  Walter  Hampton! 
0  God!  where  is  thy  justice!  Where  is  the  vile 
destroyer  of  my  granddaughter?  Where  is  the 
flither  of  that  boy?"  Lady  Hester  set  her  teeth 
together  and  murmured  :   "I  will  wait." 

Soon  Amy  came  slowly  on  to  the  house,  leading 
her  boy  by  the  hand.  She  sought  Lady  Hester, 
and  said : 

"Dear  grandma,  little  Alfred  can  tell  you  his 
name.  Is  he  not  bris^ht  for  a  child  of  eis^hteen 
months?  Here,  darling,  tell  grandma  your 
name." 

The  little  fellow  went  up  to  Lady  Hester,  tool^ 
hold  of  her  hand,  and  said : 

"I  named  Alfred  Hampton." 


I     WILL     WAIT.  169 

"Yes,  you  are  a  Hampton,  but  like  your  poor 
foolish  mother,  you  have  no  right  to  the  name 
you  bear.  It  is  not  your  fault,  little  one,"  said 
she,  stooping  and  gathering  him  to  her  bosom, 
while  tears  stole  softly  down  her  cheeks  and  fell 
upon  the  young  head  she  was  caressing.  He 
looked  up  into  her  face  with  his  innocent  baby- 
eyes,  and  she  saw  an  expression  that  reminded  her 
of  her  dear  child  sleeping  in  her  humble  grave  far 
away  in  Virginia.  Amy  saw  this  look  of  tender- 
ness that  swept  over  her  grandmother's  usually 
cold,  proud  face,  and  going  to  her  side,  fell  upon 
her  knees  and  buried  her  golden  head  on  her 
bosom,  and  said: 

"Oh,  dear  grandma,  let  me  go  back  to  America! 
Why  did  you  tear  me  from  him  I  love  so  dearly ! 
If  you  knew  how  my  poor  heart  aches  for  one 
more  look  on  his  dear  face — to  hear  again  his 
tender  voice  calling  me  Amy.  Oh,  for  those  few 
blissful  months  we  spent  together  in  the  mountain 
,  cave !  for  these  I  would  gladly  exchange  all  this 
grandeur.  Grandmother,  have  pity  on  me;  for 
two  years  you  have  kept  me  from  him!" 


170  I     WILL     WAIT. 

Lady  Hester  sprang  to  her  feet  and  commenced 
to  walk  the  floor. 

*'Amy  Le  Clare!  how  can  you  have  the  face  to 
come  to  me  with  such  a  request?  Would  you  go 
back  to  that  man,  and  begin  again  a  life  of  sin 
and  shame?  I  have  already  done  more  than  most 
women  would  have  done.  I  have  taken  you  to 
my  heart  again,  and  will  do  all  I  can  for  you  and 
your  son.  In  a  few  years  I  will  have  passed 
away;  then  all  this  vast  wealth  will  be  yours  and 
his,  to  do  with  as  you  see  fit;  but  I  cannot  permit 
you  to  return  to  Walter  Hampton  even  if  he 
asked  it.  Do  you  not  know,  simple  child,  that 
he  has  forgotten  you  long  ago,  and  perhaps  taken 
to  himself  a  lawful  wife  ?  " 

"No,  grandmother;  he  has  not  forgotten  me;  he 
loill  have  710  icife  hut  me ;  he  is  the  father  of  my 
child,''  cried  Amy,  almost  frantic  with  grief. 

"It  is  plainly  to  be  seen  by  any  one  who  has 
ever  seen  his  handsome,  treacherous  face,  that  he 
is  the  father  of  Alfred,"  said  Lady  Hester,  coldly, 
as  she  went  out,  leaving  her  granddaughter  and 
little  Alfred  alcne. 


I     WILL     WAIT.  171 

Amy  was  more  beautiful  now  than  wlien  we 
first  met  her  at  the  spring  in  the  Carolina  moun- 
tains. She  still  retained  all  the  sweet  girlish 
beauty  that  Walter  so  admired,  now  height- 
ened by  the  tender  and  holy  love  of  mother- 
hood. When  left  alone  with  her  child,  she 
gathered  him  to  her  heart,  and  said:  ^'Oh,  little 
one!  has  your  father  forgotten  me?  It  must  be 
as  grandma  says;  if  not,  why  does  he  not  come  to 
me  ?  I  have  w^ritten  to  him  so  many  times,  tell- 
ing him  of  my  whereabouts  and  of  your  birth,  and 
yet  he  does  not  seek  me,  does  not  even  write  to 
me.  Yes,  little  one,  it  must  be  so — and  the  stain 
will  never  be  lifted  that  rests  upon  your  innocent 
head,  for  your  poor  mother  s  lips  are  sealed  by  an 
oath.  God  pity  us,  my  child ! "  Then  she  wailed 
out :  "  Walter !  Walter !  would  that  you  had  let 
me  die  when  you  took  me  insensible  from  the  cold 
waters  of  the  river.  Then  there  w^ould  have  been 
no  dear  little  baby  to  bear  the  shame  and  stigma 
of  our  unfortunate  marriage."  Then  hope  whis- 
pered, Write   again  :   perhaps  he  did  not  receive 


172  IWILLWAIT. 

your  letters.  "Yes,"  she  said;  "I  will  write 
again,  and  bribe  old  Susette." 

She  did  so;  but  that  letter  shared  the  fate  of  all 
the  others  she  had  written.  Susette  gave  it  to 
Lady  Hester,  who  consigned  it  to  the  flames, 
unopened. 

Another  dreary  six  months  went  by,  and  it  had 
been  one  year  since  Lawrence  Hastings  had  taken 
his  departure  from  Castle  Rook  in  storm  and 
darkness,  and  left  his  wife  a  captive,  to  pine  her 
life  away  in  that  old  ocean  prison.  But  where,  all 
this  time,  was  her  devoted  father,  that  he  did  not 
seek  her  out  and  save  her  from  him  she  called  her 
husband  ? 


,  /• 


BAD  NEWS.  173 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

BAD  NEWS. 

THE  soft,  misty  shadows  of  the  Indian  summer 
were  hanging  over  the  mountains.  The 
forest  trees  were  clothed  in  all  their  glorious 
splendor  of  gay  autumn  tints.  Lawyer  Byrd,  as 
he  rode  out  of  the  grounds  of  Hampton  Mead, 
muttered  to  himself:  "It  is  very  strange  Mr. 
Hampton  made  the  will  he  did,  giving  all  his 
vast  wealth  to  Mrs.  Hastings,  and  in  case  of  her 
death  without  issue,  to  her  husband.  I  cannot 
understand  it !  I  cannot  bear  the  thouc^ht  of  this 
place  falling  into  the  hands  of  Lawrence  Hast- 
ings ! "  and  as  his  eyes  wandered  over  the  lovely 
park  with  its  rare  beauty,  he  sighed  to  think  how 
many  changes  had  come  to  the  occupants  of 
Hampton  Mead  in  the  last  two  years.  "  I  dread 
to  make  known  the  mission  upon  which  I  have 
come ! "  he  said,  as  he  rode  slowly  along  up  the 


174  BAD     NEWS. 

smooth  broad  drive  to  the  mansion.  He  met 
Isom  Turner,  who  had  been  airing  the  rooms, 
with  a  huge  bunch  of  keys  in  his  hand  on  his  way 
to  the  overseer's  house. 

When  Isom  saw  Mr.  Byrd,  he  hastened  to  meet 
him  with  a  broad,  good-natured  smile  on  his  black 
face.  There  was  not  a  negro  on  the  j^h'^ce  that 
did  not  rejoice  at  Mr.  Byrd's  coming,  for  when  he 
visited  them  it  was  to  read  letters  from  the  dear 
ones  over  the  sea.  It  had  been  several  months 
since  any  letters  had  come  to  their  waiting, 
anxious  hearts.  The  smile  on  Isom's  face  vanished 
when  he  saw  the  look  of  sloom  res  tin  o;  on  the 
lawyer's  usually  merry  face ;  and  he  quickly  said  : 

"  What  news,  Marster  Byrd  ?  " 

"  Bad  news,  Isom  !  bad  news  !  Your  old  master 
is  dead ;  and  your  beautiful  young  mistress  is 
hopelessly  insane ! " 

"  For  de  lub  ob  heben.  Mars'  Byrd !  what  is 
dis  you  tells  me  ?  My  old  marster  dead  !  an'  my 
dear  young  Miss  Norva  gone  'stracted !  an'  poor 
Massa   Walter ;    I   'spects   he   is   dead,    too !     I's 


BAD     NEWS.  175 

awfully  griebed  to  hear  dis  very  disagreeably 
news,  Mars'  Byrd.  I  just  t'ink  it  will  be  de 
winding  up  blow  to  my  old  'oman  Silvia,  for  she 
is  just  wrapt  up  in  dem  chillen." 

'^  I  expect  the  news  will  fall  heavily  on  Aunt 
Silvia,"  said  Mr.  Byrd,  kindly ;  "  but  let  us  go  on 
down  to  the  quarters  and  call  all  hands  to  the 
house." 

Before  they  had  gone  far,  old  Silvia  saw  them 
comine,  and  hastened  to  meet  them.  Her  old 
black  face  lighted  uj)  with  joy  when  she  recog- 
nized the  lawyer,  but  when  she  had  drawn  nearer, 
so  that  she  could  read  the  expression  of  his  face, 
she  paused,  and  a  gray,  ashen  hue  settled  over 
her  face,  as  she  said : 

"Marster  Byrd,  you  has  bad  news  for  us  dis 
tinie ;  I  can  see  it  in  your  'spression ;  I  has  felt 
it  coming; ;  shadows  casts  der  'vents  afore  'em.  I 
saw  de  new  moon  ober  my  left  shoulder  last  night, 
and  I  dream  one  ob  Mars'  Walter's  doQ:s  rolled  on 
his  back  last  night  in  front  ob  me,  and  Belle,  his 
brudder,  gib  three  prolongated  howls  dis  morning. 


176  BAD     NEWS. 

The  doves  an'  whipperwills  have  been  telling  me 
ob  coming  sorrow." 

"  You  must  not  be  so  superstitious,  Aunt 
Silvia ! "  said  Mr.  Byrd,  gently.  "  But  you  are 
right  in  regard  to  the  news  I  bring  you.  Isom 
will  tell  you.  I  will  go  on,  as  I  see  the  overseer 
coming  to  meet  me." 

This  overseer  was  none  other  than  Wilks, 
whom  we  have  once  before  mentioned  in  our  first 
chapter.  He  had  come  to  this  country  with  Mr. 
Hampton,  and  was  a  sharer  with  him  in  beautify- 
ing the  lovely  home  of  Hampton  Mead,  and  as  he 
had  proved  a  good  and  faithful  servant  over  a  few 
things,  Mr.  Hampton  had  made  him  overseer  of 
his  large  plantation,  and  business  manager  in 
general  at  Hampton  Mead.  And  indeed  Wilks 
McCard  had  not  only  the  regard  and  respect  of  Mr. 
Hampton,  but  of  every  other  person  on  the  place. 
He  was  getting  on  in  years  now,  being  many  years 
older  than  Mr.  Hampton. 

McCard  was  a  tall,  old  white-haired  Scotchman, 
and  with  his  keen,  good  figure,  and  measured  walk. 


BAD     NEWS.  it  i 

polished  silver  shoe-buckles  and  military  hat,  had 
quite  a  venerable  appearance.  Wilks  met  the 
lawyer  with  outstretched  hands,  and  welcomed 
him  in  the  name  of  his  absent  master.  Without  a 
w^ord,  Mr.  Byrd  handed  him  a  letter  he  had  that 
morning  received  from  Lawrence  Hastings.  It 
was  brief,  and  ran  as  follows : 

"London,  Eng.,  JuJi/  10th,  18 — . 

"  Mr.  Saml.  Byrd. 

"  Dear  Sir  :  It  is  my  painful  duty  to  inform 
you  that  Mr.  Hampton,  my  much  honored  and 
respected  father-in-law,  is  no  more.  He  departed 
this  life  on  the  25th  of  June.  Cause  of  death — 
gastric  fever,  as  you  will  see  by  the  certificate  I 
send  you  from  his  attending  physician.  I  have 
had  so  much  trouble  since  his  death,  that  I  could 
not  write  you  before.  As  you  know,  my  wife  was 
far  from  well  when  we  left  America.  She  has 
never  fully  regained  her  health,  and  her  father's 
death  proved  a  fearful  blow  to  her,  from  which  I 
fear  she  will  never  recover.  She  has  been  a 
raving  maniac  ever  since.  The  physicians  say  her 
case  is  a  hopeless  one.  She  is  very  frail.  I  fear 
11 


178  BAD     NEWS. 

very  much  that  by  the  time  I  write  again  I  will 
have  to  moarr.  her  loss.  How  I  wish  we  had 
remained  in  America !  If  my  beloved  wife  sur- 
vives, I  will  take  her  to  Hampton  Mead  in  Sep- 
tember, and  try  what  old,  familiar  scenes  can  do 
for  her.  As  you  are  my  wife's  lawyer,  perhaps 
you  could  suggest  what  would  be  the  wisest  thing 
to  do.     My  dear  sir,  believe  me  as  ever, 

"  Your  sorrowing  friend. 


i 


'  Lawrence  Hastings." 


Wilks  McCard,  having  read  the  letter  through, 
folded  it  up  and  handed  it  back  to  Mr.  Byrd. 
His  hand  trembled  and  his  lips  quivered,  but 
he  spoke  not  a  word.  He  went  slowly  back  to 
his  house,  and  rang  the  plantation  bell  for  all 
the  hands  to  come  in  fi'om  their  labor.  AVhea 
they  were  all  assembled,  he  tolled  the  bell  slowly 
and  sadly  several  times. 

The  blacks  did  not  know  the  meaning  of  this. 
Mr.  Byrd,  however,  occupying  an  elevated  position, 
so  that  all  could  hear  him,  proceeded  to  read 
Hastings'  letter.  When  he  had  finished,  it  was 
heartrending     to    see    their     grief-stricken    faces 


BAD     NEWS.  179 

and  hear  their  outbursts  of  sorrow.  While  Mr. 
Byrd  and  McCard  were  trying  to  soothe  them,  a 
young  man,  with  a  face  like  death,  and  lips  com- 
pressed, staggered,  rather  than  walked,  up  to  Mr. 
Byrd  and  fell  at  his  feet  in  a  swoon.  In  a 
moment  another  outburst  came  from  the  lips  of 
the  multitude  at  the  sight  of  their  young  master, 
Walter  Hampton.  In  their  joy  at  seeing  him 
again  they  forgot  their  sorrow  for  a  time.  But 
their  joy  was  soon  turned  to  wailing,  for  just 
then  two  officers  rode  up,  and  one  of  them  said : 

"  Where  is  Walter  Hampton  ?  He  is  our 
prisoner." 

"Your  prisoner !''  exclaimed  Mr.  Byrd,  coldly. 
"  Mr.  Flowers,  what  do  you  mean  ?  Is  Walter 
Hampton  charged  with  any  crime?  Who  is  his 
accuser?'* 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  Flowers.  "He  is  charged 
with  the  murder  of  a  young  girl  bearing  the 
name  of  Amy  Le  Clare.  At  present  it  is  not 
necessary  to  make  known  the  name  of  his  accuser, 
or    state   who   it    is   that   has   preferred    charges 


against  him. 


j» 


180  CASTLE     ROOK. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

CASTLE      ROOK. 

FOR  a  time  we  will  leave  Walter  in  his  prison 
cell  at  B ,  until  we  visit  Castle  Rook  in 

Cornwall,  and  see  how  long  Norva  Hastings  slept 
after  old  Jessine.  had  given  her  the  drug  in  her 
coflfee  on  the  ni2:ht  of  her  arrival. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day, 
when  she  opened  her  eyes  and  found  herself  alone, 
lying  on  a  bed  in  a  room,  the  windows  of  which 
looked  out  on  the  great  dark  sea.  The  storm  of 
the  night  previous  had  passed  away,  but  the 
waves  still  rose  and  fell  in  angry  tumult  as  they 
dashed  against  the  rocks.  At  first,  Norva  could 
not  remember  where  she  was,  and  as  she 
attempted  to  leave  her  bed,  fell  back  on  her 
pillow,  weak  and  faint.  The  powerful  drug  had 
left  her  as  helpless  as  a  little  child,  and  in  a  low 
voice  she  repeatedly  called   her  husband's  name, 


CASTLE     ROOK.  181 

but  received  no  reply,  and  only  the  dull  sound  of 
the  waves,  as  they  washed  the  walls,  reached  her 
anxious  ear. 

In  the  course  of  an  hour  the  door  opened,  and 
old  Jessine  came  in,  bearing  a  tray  with  some 
food.  Norva  looked  at  her  and  trembled,  her 
nerves  were  so  excited  b}^  the  drug  she  had  taken, 
and  the  hard  face  of  the  old  woman  struck  terror 
to  her  heart,  as  she  said : 

"Where    is    Mr.    Hastings?      Where    is    my 

husband?" 

The  old  woman  almost  laughed,  as  she  said  : 

"Your  husband.  Mademoiselle  Hastings,  has 
concluded  to  leave  you  here  for  a  few  days  with 
me,  as  he  was  suddenly  called  away  on  very 
important  business  last  night." 

"  Mr.  Hastings  gone  and  left  me  here,  alone  in 
this  horrible  place !  Oh !  it  cannot  be !  I  shall 
go  mad  if  he  does  not  come  and  take  me  back  to 
London,  to  my  father ! " 

The  old  dame  set  her  tray  down  on  a  table,  and 
turned  and  faced  this  sweet,  beautiful  mountain 


182  CASTLE     ROOK. 

flower.  She  folded  her  fat  hands  on  her  breast^ 
and  a  dark,  threatening  look  settled  over  her  face 
as  she  said : 

"  Madam,  I  will  not  deceive  you  longer.  Yoit 
will  never  leave  Castle  Rook  alive.  It  is  Monsieur's 
intention  to  keep  you  here.  Old  Delgardo  and 
myself  are  your  jailors.  We  are  paid  to  detain 
you,  and  I  may  as  well  tell  you,  first  as  last,  that 
Monsieur  has  no  estate  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
There  is  no  such  place  as  the  Morelands.  When 
he  left  London,  it  was  only  to  bring  you  here. 
This  close  confinement,  coupled  with  the  damp 
sea-air,  will  soon  cut  the  delicate  thread  by  which 
your  life  hangs,  and  my  foster  child  w^ill  be  free 
to  wed  Mademoiselle  Stanley — the  most  beautiful 
woman  in  England.  In  addition,  he  wall  have  all 
your  great  wealth.  Now,  madam,  take  my  advice 
and  make  up  your  mind  to  bear  your  imprison- 
ment with  patience,,  for  there  is  no  chance  of 
escape  for  you." 

Norva,  at  this  announcement,  summoned  all 
her  strength,  and  in  great  excitement  sprang 
from  her  bed  and  cried : 


CASTLE     ROOK.  183 

"  Old  woman,  it  is  false !  My  husband  is  not 
the  wretch  you  paint  him  to  be ;  and,  if  he  were, 
my  father  will  seek  me  out  and  rescue  me  from 
this  terrible  place.  Mr.  Hastings  cannot  keep  me 
here  long.     My  father  will  soon  miss  me." 

"Can't  he,  thoucfliV  said  old  Jessine.  "Tell  me 
how  your  father  will  find  you,  here  in  Cornwall, 
when  he  himself  is  a  prisoner  near  Manchester?" 

"My  flxther  a  prisoner!  and  for  what?"  said 
Norva,  with  wild,  starting  ej'CS. 

"Ha!  ha!  ha!"  laughed  Jessine,  "you  are  so 
dull,  madam.  Sit  down  here  and  quiet  yourself, 
and  I  will  tell  you  something.  Monsieur  Lawrence 
Hastings  is  poor.  He  loves  Mademoiselle  Stanley 
better  than  his  own  soul.  When  he  met  you  and 
found  you  were  a  great  heiress,  they  formed  a  plan 
to  become  the  possessors  of  all  your  wealth,  and 
this  could  not  be  accomplished  without  a  marriage 
between  you  and  Monsieur  Lawrence.  You 
have  a  brother  whom  Monsieur  feared,  and  his 
main  object  in  life,  at  that  time,  was  to  get  rid  of 
that  brother,  and   he  succeeded   in   having   him 


]84  CASTLE     ROOK. 

disinherited,  and  in  a  few  months  he  will  fill  a 
cell  in  some  prison.  Delgardo  and  I  know  all 
Monsieur's  plans.  Madam,  I  tell  you  again,  make 
the  best  of  your  imprisonment.  The  news  of  your 
father's  death  will  be  forwarded  to  America,  and 
also  the  report  of  your  hopeless  insanity;  and  a 
few  months  later,  the  report  of  your  death  will 
follow.  Then  Monsieur  Hastings  will  come 
into  full  possession  of  all  the  Hampton  wealth; 
then  Delgardo  and  old  Jessine  will  never  know 
want  again." 

Here  the  old  woman  paused  for  breath,  and 
Norva  said  : 

"On  what  ground  will  my  brother  occupy  a 
prison  cell  ?  " 

"  Murder ! "  hissed  old  Jessine.  "  He  has  murdered 
a  fair  young  girl  in  America,  named  Mademoiselle 
Le  Clare ;  and  Monsieur  Hastings  will  see  that  he 
is  hung  for  it!"  cried  the  old  hag,  with  a  fiendish 
laugh. 

This    last   piece   of   news   was   too   much   for 


CASTLE     ROOK.  185 

Norva's  terribly  sliocked  nerves,  and  she  threw 
her  hands  to  her  head,  and  with  a  piercing  scream 
fell  senseless  to  the  floor. 

Jessine  retired,  using  no  effort  to  bring  the  poor 
sufferer  to ;  and  the  night  was  far  advanced  when 
she  canie  to  herself  again.  Oh !  the  horror  of  her 
awakening,  when  she  realized  her  awful  situation! 
She  felt  that  she  had  been  betrayed  by  the  wiles 
of  a  villain,  and  was  completely  in  his  power.  He 
had  laid  his  plans  well,  by  which  to  secure  the 
Hampton  wealth  and  further  his  wicked  designs. 
Norva's  father,  ''  a  prisoner  near  Manchester ; "  her 
dear  brother  Walter,  confined  in  a  criminal's  cell 
far  away  in  America,  and  herself  a  prisoner  in  this 
sea-girt  castle  far  from  friends  and  home.  "  Home ! " 
How  sweet  the  word  sounded  as  she  murmured 
it  to  herself  in  utter  helplessness,  thinking  how 
she  would  like  to  be  within  the  walls  of  Hampton 
Mead  again  a  free  and  happy  girl,  with  her  darling 
father  and  noble  brother ! 

At  last  she  said  to  Jessine,  "  Where  are  my 


186  CASTLE     ROOK. 

jewels?  "Where  have  you  put  them?  Return 
them  to  me  at  once  !" 

Old  Jessine  laughed,  and  said,  "  You  will  have 
to  call  on  Monsieur  for  your  jewels  and  purse ;  he 
took  them  with  him  to  London." 

Poor  Norva!  Now  all  the  scenes  came  up  to 
her  that  she  had  witnessed  between  Lawrence  and 
Octavia,  and  she  hid  her  face  in  her  hands  and 
wept  the  bitterest  tears  of  her  young  life,  while 
she  thought  how  she  had  been  betrayed  by  him 
whom  she  had  loved  and  trusted.  Alas !  he  had 
violated  his  obligations,  and  by  his  own  infamy 
set  the  seal  of  a  villain  upon  his  own  Cain-like 
brow. 

"Ah !  if  the  old  woman  tells  the  truth,"  thought 
she,  "I  am  really  doomed  to  remain  here  until 
death  frees  me  !  But  no !  the  God  whom  I  have 
loved  and  obeyed  all  my  life  will  not  suffer  me  to 
perish  here.  By  His  divine  and  unseen  help  I 
will  escape,  and  live  to  confront  my  wretched 
husband  1  Oh  !  Lawrence  !  Lawrence  ! "  at  last 
broke  from  her  pale  lips,  "why  did  I  ever  love 


CASTLE     ROOK.  187 

and  trust  you — you  wlio  have  consigned  me  to 
such  a  ]Dlace  to  die  ?  But  I  will  not  die  !  I  will 
live  for  my  father  and  brother ! " 

Norva  turned  to  the  old  woman,  and  said, 
"  Leave  me  ;  I  wish  to  be  alone." 

A  grim  smile  hovered  over  the  face  of  old 
Jessine  Delgardo,  as  she  complied  with  Mrs. 
Hastings'  request. 

When  Norva  was  alone,  she  fell  upon  her  Icnees 
and  prayed  God  to  give  her  strength  to  endure  her 
great  sorrow  that  had  been  sent  upon  her;  she 
prayed  that  some  way  would  be  provided  for  her 
escape. 

God  surely  answers  prayer;  but  eighteen  months 
passed,  and  still  Norva  was  at  Castle  Eook,  and 
her  strength  had  begun  to  fail.  In  all  this  time 
she  had  seen  no  one,  save  Jessine  and  old  Del- 
gardo.  No  sound  had  penetrated  her  ears,  save 
the  harsh  voices  of  her  jailors  and  the  continual 
dash,  dash,  of  the  waves,  and  the  cry  of  the  sea- 
^  gull,  as  it  flapped  its  wings  against  her  window. 
Many  times  she  had  been  upon  the  eve  of  throw- 


188  CASTLE     ROOK. 

ing  herself  from  her  window  into  the  dark  waters 
below  her ;  but  as  often  she  would  say,  "  No,  I 
will  wait,  and  trust  in  God  a  while  yet."  Then 
thoughts  of  Lawrence  would  rise  up  before  her, 
and  she  would  say,  "  Was  it  for  this  I  gave  all  for 
thee  ?     Ohj  man,  where  is  thy  shame  !" 


.LIND     HURST.  ISO 


CHAPTER    XXIIL 

LIND     HURST. 

0(  NOW  and  ice  glittered  in  the  pale,  English 
KJ  sunlight  as  Amy  and  her  little  son  drove 
along  the  road  in  a  pony  phaeton,  some  four  miles 
from  Glen  Park.  The  flowers  had  all  faded  and 
died  ;  the  hedges  were  leafless,  and  sent  forth  no 
delicate  perfume;  but  the  landscape  was  beautiful, 
and  poor  Amy  enjoyed  the  view  very  much.  She 
had  never  been  so  far  from  the  Park  since  her 
residence  there  began,  two  years  ago  and  over. 

A  little  further  on  they  came  upon  a  lovely 
place  on  the  left — a  large,  white  stone  building, 
surrounded  by  a  beautiful  grove  of  tall,  graceful 
trees,  protected  by  a  high  stone  wall.  Amy 
turned  to  the  groom  wdio  was  attending  her,  and 
said,  "James,  what  place  is  this  to  our  left?" 

"Oh!"  he  said,  "that  is  Dr.  Hurst's  private 
infirmary  for   the   insane,   and    it  is  called   Lind 


190  LIND     nURST. 

Hurst.  It  is  too  lovely  a  place  to  be  devoted  to 
anything  so  sad,"  he  said,  with  a  shake  of  the 
head;  "and  it  is  rumored  there  are  many  who  go 
there  that  do  not  have  diseased  minds." 

"  You  do  not  mean  to  say  any  one  would  go 
there  of  their  own  accord,  and  when  it  was  not 
necessary,"  said  Amy,  in  surprise ;  for  there  w^as 
somethino;  so  terrible  to  her  mind  in  one  beino; 
shut  up  in  such  a  place  during  a  person's  sanity, 
that  she  shuddered. 

"  Oh,  no !  they  don't  go  there  of  their  own 
accord,"  said  James ;  "  they  are  sent  there  because 
they  are  in  the  way.  There  was  a  rich  lord  as 
married  a  fair,  sweet  girl,  and  in  time  he  grew 
tired  of  her,  and  had  her  put  in  Lind  Hurst. 
After  she  had  been  there  five  years  she  escaped, 
and  came  to  Glen  Park ;  that  was  during  the 
Earl's  time.  She  told  him  her  story,  and  he  kept 
her  concealed  until  she  could  hear  from  her 
friends.  As  soon  as  they  found  out  where  she 
was,  they  came  and  took  her  away.  We  never 
heard  what  became  of  her  after  that ;  at  least,  I 
did  not." 


LIND     HURST.  191 

Amy  let  her  ponies  walk  slowly  along  the 
hedge-road,  and  kept  her  eyes  strained  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  some  of  the  inmates,  but  could  not.  She 
thought,  "  There  are  many  poor  creatures  more 
wretched  than  myself.  Oh,  Walter !  how  could 
you  treat  me  so !  when  I  love  you  so  dearly ; 
and  shall  love  you  while  I  live.  But  my  trust  is 
gone." 

At  a  sudden  turn  in  the  road  they  met  a  car- 
riage drawn  by  two  splendid  black  horses,  that 
pranced  in  handsome  silver-mounted  harness.  The 
carriage  had  one  occupant,  a  man,  perhaps  forty 
years  of  age,  with  dark  eyes,  hair  and  beard.  His 
features  were  cast  in  the  most  delicate  mould. 
Soft,  sweet,  sunny  smiles  rippled  over  the  face  of 
this  Apollo,  as  he  lifted  his  hat  politely  to  Amy, 
and  then  passed  on.  "  His  face  has  the  beauty 
and  softness  of  a  leopard  in  repose,"  thought  Am}'; 
then,  beckoning  for  James  to  come  up,  she  asked : 

"  Do  you  know  that  gentleman  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Miss  Amy !  that  was  the  proprietor  of 
Lind  Hurst — Dr.  Hurst  himself!" 


192  LIND     HURST. 

"  I  thought  so  !  "  said  Amy.  "  But  we  have 
gone  far  enough;  let  us  turn  and  go  back,  or  grand- 
mother will  become  uneasy  at  my  long  absence. 
She  is  expecting  papers  from  America  to-day,  and 
I  am  anxious  to  look  them  over  with  her." 

She  turned  her  ponies'  heads  in  the  direction  of 
Glen  Park  again,  and  as  she  passed  Lind  Hurst, 
kept  a  keen,  sharp  watch  fixed  upon  it  as  before, 
but  saw  no  one. 

They  had  nearly  passed  the  high  stone  wall, 
when  a  small  white  stone  fell  at  the  feet  of  the 
23onies  and  caused  them  to  turn  to  one  side  of  the 
road.  Amy  had  seen  it  on  its  flight  before  it  fell, 
and  was  sure  it  came  from  the  other  side  of  the 
wall. 

"  Here,  James,  alight  and  hand  me  that  stone 
or  whatever  it  may  be,"  she  said,  in  some  excite- 
ment. 

James  got  off  his  horse  and  picked  it  up,  and 
handed  it  to  her.  It  was  a  sheet  of  writing  paper 
rolled  around  a  small  stone.  Amy,  with  trem- 
bling fingers,  opened  the  paper,  smoothed  it  out, 


LIND     HURST.  193 

and  read  that  which  caused  the  color  to  leave  her 
beautiful  face,  and  her  blood  to  run  cold  in  her 
veins. 

Let  us  look  over  her  shoulder  and  read  with  her: 

"  For  God's  sake !  whoever  gets  this,  try  to 
rescue  me  from  this  horrible  place !  Enemies 
have  had  me  placed  here,  and  have  sent  the 
report  of  my  death  to  America,  so  that  they  may 
get  full  possession  of  my  property.  Try  to  save 
me,  for  the  love  of  heaven !  My  name  is  Alfred 
Hampton,  of  North  Carolina,  in  the  United  States. 
Whoever  eets  this,  trv  to  o:et  inside :  carry  a 
white  rose  in  your  hand,  and  I  will  know  I  have 
a  friend." 

When  Amy  finished  reading  it,  she  pressed  her 

lips    together   and   thought :    "  Mr.    Hampton,    / 

will   go  to   your   rescue!    /  will   give   you  your 

liberty!      Amy   Le    Clare,   the   poor   half-breed's 

grandchild,  who  loved   your    son    so    much,  will 

save  you,  for  the  sake  of  this   little  one  at  my 

side.     I    will    do   this    to   repay    Walter  for  the 

pure   and  happ}^  days  we  spent  together   before 
12 


194  LIND      HURST. 

grandmother  tore  me  from  him.  Where  is  he 
now?  why  does  he  not  write?  has  he  forgotten 
me?  will  he  ever  know  he  has  a  son? 

"James,  are  you  a  true  friend  of  mine?"  said 
Amy.  "Would  you  keep  a  secret  for  me,  and 
aid  me  in  something  if  it  lay  in  your  power  to 
do  so?" 

"  I  would  do  anything  to  aid  a  relative  of  Lord 
Glenmore." 

"  Then  do  not  tell  my  grandmother  of  this 
letter.  There  is  one  in  deep  distress  w^ithin  these 
walls — one  whom  she  has  known  in  America, 
but  she  would  not  try  to  get  him  out,  I  fear,  and 
would  try  to  prevent  me  from  doing  so  if  she 
suspected  his  presence  there." 

"  Some  relative,"  thought  James,  "  that  my 
grand  Lady  Hester  does  not  like.  Miss  Amy, 
do  not  think  me  impertinent,  but  is  this  from  a 
lady?" 

"  No,  James,  it  is  a  gentleman  much  older  than 
yourself,  and  relation  of  my  boy." 

"  It's  enough.  Miss  Amy.     I  will  do  all  I  can 


LIND     HURST.  195 

for  you,"  said  James,  with  deep  respect,  for  the 
servants  at  Glen  Park  all  loved  this  fair,  sweet 
girl  very  dearly,  and  idolized  her  child. 

Lady  Hester  had  told  them  when  she  first  came 
to  Glen  Park,  that  she  had  taken  Amy  from  the 
father  of  her  child  because  he  was  unworthy  of 
her,  and  they  all  looked  upon  her  as  a  wedded 
wife,  but  knew  not  the  name  of  her  husband. 
Little  Alfred  never  put  Hampton  to  his  name, 
unless  when  told  to  do  so  by  his  mother. 

When  Amy  reached  home  she  found  Lady 
Hester  deeply  interested  in  her  mail.  She  had 
received  several  American  papers,  and  a  letter 
from  her  lawyers.  Sparks  &  Wind,  and  it  was 
highly  necessary,  they  said,  that  she  should  be  in 
Wilmington  the  first  of  the  coming  April.  In 
one  of  the  latest  Wilmington  papers  she  read  the 
following  notice : 

"  The  trial  of  young  Walter  Hampton,  for  the 
murder  of  Miss  Le  Clare,  is  put  off  until  the  April 
term,  when  he  expects  to  produce  witnesses  to 
prove  his  innocence." 


196  LIND     HURST. 

This  paper  Lady  Hester  burned,  for  fear  Amy 
might  also  see  this  notice.  Amy,  however,  took 
little  interest  in  the  papers  when  she  found  there 
was  no  letter  for  her.  In  the  following  week, 
Lady  Hester  was  on  her  way  to  Wilmington,  with 
a  promise  made  to  Amy  that  she  would  endeavor 
to  see  Walter  Hampton. 


.     ( 

TRAPPED.  1G7 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

TRAPPED. 

A  HAPPY  smile  played  over  the  face  of  Dr. 
Hurst,  a  month  later,  as  he  met  his  friend, 
the  elder  Hastings,  who  had  called  to  see  how 
his  victim  was  getting  along,  and  to  pay  the 
doctor  for  his  valuable  services. 

"  So  you  say  your  patient  is  failing  rapidly,'* 
said  Hastings,  with  a  degree  of  great  satisfaction, 
stroking  his  beard. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  doctor,  "  he  seems  to  be  suffer- 
ing from  a  low  fever,  and  keeps  his  bed  most  of 
the  time." 

''  That  is  well,  doctor.  Now,  tell  me  how  you 
are  making  it  with  the  golden-haired  blonde  you 
wrote  to  me  about  some  weeks  ago." 

"Splendidly!"  said  the  doctor.  "She  is  a  little 
widow,  and  you  know  a  man  can  get  along  faster 
in  courtship  with  one  of  those  angels,  than  with 


198  TRAPPED. 

one  who  has  never  been  married.  Hastings,  it  is 
strange  that  I  have  lived  to  be  as  old  as  I  am, 
and  never  loved  a  woman  before.  This  beautiful 
creature,  besides  not  being  twenty  yet,  is  one  of 
the  wealthiest  heiresses  in  England,  Lady  May 
Glenmore,  of  Glen  Park.  Her  grandmother  has 
gone  to  the  United  States,  and  I  am  admitted  to 
her  presence  every  day,  and  sometimes  she  comes 
here  to  superintend  some  improvements  I  am 
making  at  her  suggestions.  I  am  looking  forward 
with  great  joleasure  to  my  early  marriage.  It  will 
be  before  Lady  Hester  comes  home,  as  she  is 
bitterly  opposed  to  Lady  May's  marrying  again. 
But  tell  me,  where  is  Lawrence?" 

"He  and  his  bride  are  in  Kome  now.  They  will 
return  to  London  in  the  spring,  and  then  leave 
England  and  take  up  their  abode  in  America. 
Now  I  must  be  off,  as  I  have  to  make  a  visit  down 
in  Cornwall.  When  I  return  again,  a  month  later, 
I  hope  to  meet  the  beautiful  Mrs.  Hurst,"  and 
Hastings  departed,  little  dreaming  that  the  lovely 
Lady  May  was  Amy  Le  Clare,  his  own  daughter, 


TRAPPED.  199 

and  that  she  was  planning,  through  Dr.  Hurst's 
weakness  for  herself,  to  save  the  man  of  all  the 
rest  of  the  world  he  wished  to  see  dead. 

At  this  same  moment.  Amy  was  trying  to  form 
a  plan  by  which  to  rescue  the  poor  man  from  the 
dark,  gloomy  walls  where  he  had  spent  over  a 
year. 

Mr.  Hampton  now  fully  understood  why  Walter 
disliked  Lawrence  Hastings;  it  was  something  that 
Walter  could  read  in  his  nature  that  had  been  hid 
from  himself  and  his  poor  unfortunate  daughter. 

After  Amy  had  puzzled  her  brain  for  some 
time,  she  rang  the  bell  and  told  the  woman  that 
answered  it  to  send  James  to  her;  when  he  had 
come,  she  said : 

'^  James,  I  wish  j^ou  to  ride  for  your  life  to  Lind 
Hurst,  and  tell  Dr.  Hurst  to  come  to  me  at  once, 
that  I  am  ill  and  have  a  request  to  make  of  him. 
He  will  not  refuse,  I  know.  Then,  hasten  back, 
and  go  to  your  room  and  put  on  the  disguise  I 
have  there  for  you.  Do  not  fail  to  carry  a  white 
rose  in  your  hand." 


200  TRAPPED. 

When  James  was  gone,  Amy  said:  "How  fortu- 
nate that  James  is  so  tall  !  and  what  a  blessing 
that  I  came  across  that  j^ackage  of  drugs  yester- 
day! They  are  harmless,  and  I  can  but  try,  and 
God  be  with  me  in  my  effort.'* 

It  was  late  at  night  when  James  came  back. 
He  was  accompanied  by  the  soft,  sweet-smiling 
doctor.  Amy  was  reclining  on  a  sofa;  her  pale, 
golden  hair  streamed  over  the  pillow,  and  her 
pure,  lovely  cheeks  burned  with  excitement, 
and  her  eyes  shone  with  a  light  born  of  a  holy 
purpose. 

The  doctor  fell  upon  one  knee  at  her  side  and 
said: 

"  Lady  May,  I  am  your  slave ;  what  can  I  do 

Tor  you?"     He  felt  her  pulse,  and  looked  in  her 

strangely    brilliant    eyes.      She    never    flinched. 

"You   are  terribly  nervous,  my   love,"    he   said. 

^^Whatisit?" 

"Lady  Hester  will  be  at  Glen  Park  soon.  I  had 
a  letter  from  her  to-day.  What  will  she  say  when 
she  comes,  and  finds  out  that  you  are  visiting  me?" 


TRAPPED.  201 

"Is  that  it,  my  love?"  said  the  doctor,  smiling 
to  think  how  this  fair  young  creature  confided  in 
him. 

Lifting  her  eyes  to  his  face,  she  said :  "  Dr. 
Hurst,  how  long  can  you  remain  away  from  your 
patients  to-night,  and  stay  with  me  ?  I  am  so 
nervous." 

"  Until  you  are  better,  Lady  May,  if  it  is  until 
morning,"  said  the  doctor,  softly. 

"  I  am  so  glad,"  said  Amy.  "  We  will  have 
coffee  together  for  the  first  time.  I  will  make  it 
myself,  if  you  will  let  me  rise,"  and  she  gave  him 
one  of  those  winning  smiles  that  men  find  so 
hard  to  resist. 

When  she  was  gone,  the  doctor  leaned  back  in 
his  chair  and  gave  himself  up  to  sweet,  pleasant 
thoughts  of  the  time  when  Lady  May  would  be  his 
wife.  ^^And  that  day  is  not  far  distant,"  he  said 
to  himself,  as  Lady  May  made  her  appearance,  fol- 
lowed by  a  servant  bearing  a  tray,  with  two  steam- 
ing cups  of  coffee  and  some  sweetmeats.  When 
they  were  placed  upon  the  table,  the  doctor  arose 


202  TRAPPED. 

and  placed  a  chair  for  the  lovely  woman  he  hoped 
to  call  his  wife,  and  seating  himself  on  the  opposite 
sidC;  so  he  could  take  in  all  her  rare,  sweet 
beauty,  said : 

"  How  nice  it  will  be,  Lady  May,  when  you  are 
my  wife:  we  will  take  our  meals  at  our  own 
private  table." 

Amy  smiled  back  on  him,  but  made  no  reply. 
All  the  time  her  heart  beat  so  fast  and  loud  she 
feared  he  would  hear  it. 

"  What  delicious  coffee.  Lady  May !  I  never 
remember  to  have  drunk  better.  I  will  trouble 
you  for  the  second  cup." 

This  was  something  she  had  not  expected,  and 
she  arose  and  said : 

"  This  is  our  own  little  private  supper.  I  will 
get  the  coffee  myself" 

She  feared  to  give  him  more  of  the  drug,  and 
she  feared  to  give  him  strong  coffee  without 
it,  for  fear  it  would  prove  an  antidote  for  the 
drug  she  had  already  given  him.  When  she 
returned  with  the  two  cups  filled  again,  he  saw 


TRAPPED.  203 

she  was  deathly  pale ;  and  he  arose  and  came  to 
her  side  at  once. 

"  My  dear  Lady  May,  you  are  ill ;   lean  on  me." 

"  No ;  it  is  nothing,"  said  she,  smiling  faintly ; 
"  I  am  like  you,  I  need  another  cup  of  coffee  to 
brace  my  nerves.  I  was  thinking  of  Lady 
Hester." 

"All  this  will  soon  be  past,  Lady  May,"  said 
the  doctor,  as  he  drained  his  cup  for  the  second 
time. 

When  the  little  supper  was  finished,  Amy  said, 
with  a  bright  smile,  "  Dr.  Hurst,  have  I  ever 
played  for  you?" 

His  eyes  gleamed  with  delight,  as  he  said,  "  No, 
Lady  May ;  you  never  have.  Nothing  would  give 
me  more  pleasure  than  to  hear  you  sing,  unless  it 
were  to  call  you  my  wife,"  and  the  doctor  sat 
down,  and  watched  the  delicate  fingers  as  they 
touched  the  strings  of  her  Spanish  guitar. 

Before  she  had  finished  singing  one  verse  of  a 
sweet  old  ballad,  he  was  murmuring,  "  Oh  !  how 
sweet ! "  and  fast  sinking  into  a  deep  sleep. 


204  TRAPPED. 

At  last  his  head  fell  back  on  the  divan  on 
which  he  had  been  reclining,  and  Amy  knew  the 
sun  would  be  high  in  the  heavens  when  he  awoke. 

She  arose,  laid  her  guitar  aside,  and  looked 
down  on  this  sleeping  leopard,  and  a  look  of  scorn 
and  loathing  stole  over  her  face  and  flashed  from 
her  eyes. 

"  Poor  idiot ! "  she  said,  as  she  went  and  touched 
the  bell-pull. 

In  a  moment  there  was  a  low  knock  at  the  door ; 
she  went  and  opened  it  softly.  She  started  back, 
and  a  half-smothered  scream  escaped  her  pale 
lips.  Was  she  dreaming?  or  did  Dr.  Hurst  stand 
before  her  ? 

She  cast  a  sudden  look  in  the  direction  of  the 
divan ;  there  the  doctor  lay  like  one  dead. 

"  Come  in,  James ;  it  is  now  one  o'clock.  You 
know  the  room.  Take  the  keys  from  Dr.  Hurst's 
pocket ;  put  on  his  great  coat  and  be  off,  and  God 
be  with  you.  This  man  will  not  awaken  until 
twelve  to-morrow,  and  there  is  much  to  be  accom- 
plished in  that  time.      Take  the  doctors  horse, 


TRAPPED.  205 

and  leave  him  at  Lind  Hurst.  You  and  your  com- 
joanion  must  walk  back  to  Glen  Park,  and  may 
God  speed  you,"  said  she,  sinking  on  her  knees 
and  praying  God  to  crown  her  efforts  with  success. 

The  dull  gray  dawn  of  a  winter's  morning  was 
just  streaking  the  eastern  horizon  when  old  James 
returned  to  Glen  Park,  and  ushered  in  a  pale, 
weary,  white  haired  man.  His  form  was  bent  as 
if  by  age,  but  it  was  grief  and  starvation.  This 
man  was  the  once  hale,  noble-looking  Mr.  Hamp- 
ton, of  Hampton  Mead. 

Amy  met  them  in  the  hall,  and  her  sweet  voice 
rang  out  with  joy  and  praise,  as  she  said,  "  Thank 
God  !  Mr.  Hampton,  you  are  free  from  the  w^alls 
of  Lind  Hurst.  Now  you  must  away  to  London, 
and  hide  yourself  from  your  enemies ;  for  when 
the  doctor  awakens  he  will  suspect  something,  and 
it  will  not  be  long  until  he  wdll  have  his  blood- 
hounds on  your  track.  First  take  a  glass  of  wine 
and  some  refreshing  food,  and  then  try  to  get  a 
few  hours  repose ;  then  you  can  breakfast,  and 
reach  Manchester  as  soon  as  possible." 


206  TRAPPED. 

The  old  man  was  too  weak  to  express  his  thanks 
to  this  brave  girl  then.  He  took  her  advice  ;  she 
led  him  herself  to  a  warm,  pleasant  room,  where 
he  could  lie  down  on  a  soft  bed  and  sleep.  He 
soon  fell  into  a  deep  slumber,  with  a  blessing  on 
his  lips  for  this  lovely  woman  with  hair  like 
spun  gold. 

The  little  French  clock  on  the  mantel-piece  was 
on  the  point  of  striking  ten,  when  Mr.  Hampton 
opened  his  eyes.  He  started,  a  low  moan  escaped 
his  lips,  as  a  vision,  like  what  his  son  Walter  was 
at  two  years  of  age,  stood  looking  at  him. 

"What  is  your  name,  little  one?"  said  Mr. 
Hampton,  sadly. 

The  child  held  out  its  little  hand,  and  said: 

"  My  name  is  Alfred  Hampton,  and  so  is  yours. 
My  mamma  say  you  is  my  danpapa;"  and  in  a 
moment  more  the  little  fellow  flew  to  his  mother 
and  said:  "Danpapa  is  dead !  " 

"  Oh,  my  darling,  did  you  go  into  his  room  ?  I 
have  been  so  busy  preparing  him  some  nourish- 
ment I  had  forgotten  you,"  and  she  hastened  to 


TRAPPED.  207 

Mr.  Hampton's  room,  where  she  found  he  had 
fainted.  She  used  every  restorative  she  could 
think  of.  At  hast  she  was  rewarded  by  hearing  a 
deep-drawn  sigh,  and  seeing  his  eyes  open.  Her 
heart  throbbed,  for  was  not  this  Walter's  father  ? 

"  Who  are  you  ? "  he  said,  in  a  deep  whisper. 

"I  am  Amy  Le  Clare,  Hester  Spotswood's 
granddaughter." 

''  You  Amy  Le  Clare !  Oh !  God !  and  was  it 
for  such  a  creature  as  you  I  banished  my  only 
son !  But  how  came  you  here  ?  I  thought  you 
dead." 

"  It  is  a  long  story,"  said  Amy,  "  and  I  would 
rather  not  tell  you,  for  you  have  no  time  to  lose." 

"  But  that  child — is  he  yours  and  Walter 
Hampton's  ?  " 

"  He  is,"  said  Amy,  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Where  is  Walter  ?  " 

"  That  I  cannot  tell  you,"  said  Amy,  while  the 
tears  stole  into  her  eyes ;  "  I  have  not  seen  or 
heard  of  him  in  over  two  years.  My  grandmother, 
now  Lady  Hester  Glenmore,  took  me  away  from 


208  TRAPPED. 

our  cave  when  Walter  was  absent.  I  have  writ- 
ten him  many  letters,  but  have  never  heard  from 
him.  I  shall  tell  you  nothing  more,  now,  until 
you  have  taken  some  refreshments,"  said  Amy,  in 
a  tone  of  deep  feeling.  "  After  that  please  tell  me 
how  you  came  to  be  an  inmate  at  Lind  Hurst." 

"  God  bless  you,"  said  Mr.  Hampton :  "  you  are 
a  brave  girl.     May  God  reward  you  for  this  deed." 

Even  then  her  reward  was  on  its  way  over  the 
deep. 


HE     MUST     BE     TAKEN.  209 


I 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

HE     MUST     BE     TAKEN. 

N   an  elegant  villa  overlooking  the  beautiful 

Arno,  Lawrence  Hastings  and  Octavia  lived, 

spending  Mr.  Hampton's  money  with  lavish  hands. 

Lawrence    had    written    to    Mr.    Bjrd    that    his 

beloved  wife,  Norva,  had  passed  away,  and  that 

he  was  now  alone,  but  would  be  at  Hampton  Mead 

again    in    the    spring.     "  And    then,    my   darling 

Octavia,  you  shall   be  mine   in  the  sight  of  the 

laws   of  the  land,   w^hen    that  woman  will  have 

passed    away.     Siie    cannot    live    at   that    lonely 

place  much  longer.     Her  father  is   dead  by  this 

time,  I  dare  say.     Walter  will  be  sure  to  swing 

for  the  murder  of  my  sister.     If  he  does  not,  he 

would  not  think   of  contesting  his  father's   will, 

and  even  if  he  did,  I  w^ould  law  him  to  the  end  of 

my  life.     He  will  die  by  the  law;  I  shall  become 

heir  to  all  the  Hampton  wealth." 
13 


210  HE     MUST     BE     TAKEN. 

"It  is  very  strange  about  this  sister  of  yours," 
said  Octavia;  "I  never  remember  to  have  heard 
anything  about  her  before ; "  and  a  shadow  over- 
cast her  face,  and  a  strange  .light  gleamed  in  her 
eyes. 

"  This  fair-haired  girl  was  my  half-sister,  never- 
theless," said  Lawrence.  "  Octavia,  you  are  look- 
ing pale,  and  this  is  the  day  we  have  set  to  visit 
the  art  gallery.  Let  us  be  off,  and  perhaps  by  the' 
time  we  get  back  we  will  find  letters  from  the  old 
chap,  bringing  us  good  tidings,"  he  said,  while  he 
pressed  his  lips  to  this  guilty  woman's  brow. 

Oh,  how  sad  that  one  so  beautiful  should  be  so 
unwomanly  as  to  listen  to  Lawrence  Hastings' 
dishonorable  words.  His  father  had  accomplished 
the  awful  plan  of  having  Mr.  Hampton  confined 
at  Lind  Hurst  mad-house,  and  poor  Norva  was  a 
prisoner  at  Castle  Rook ! 

They  had  gone  through  a  form  of  marriage 
when  they  both  knew  of  Norva's  whereabouts. 
But  the  few  that  knew  them  in  London  supposed 
Mr.  Hampton  and  his  beautiful  daughter  dead. 
So  Octavia  lived  with  Lawrence  as  his  wife. 


HE     MUST     BE     TAKEN.  211 

The  only  thought  that  Lawrence  Hastings  had 
of  Norva  was,  "  When  will  old  Delgardo  write  and 
tell  me  she  is  dead  ?  When  will  my  father  write 
and  tell  me  Mr.  Hampton  also  is  no  more  ?  Then 
I  will  marry  Octavia,  and  enter  into  possession  of 
one  of  the  first  estates  in  America,  and  be  happy 
with  the  only  woman  I  ever  cared  for." 

It  is  an  old  sajang — it  is  darkest  before  dawn. 
It  might  be  added  that  our  brightest  prospects  are 
often  overcast  by  disappointment,  as  will  be  in 
Lawrence  Hastinsfs'  case. 

He  and  Octavia  spent  the  morning  in  one  of  the 
galleries  of  Florence,  returning  to  the  villa  in  time 
for  lunch,  which  was  served  in  a  style  becoming  a 
palace.  Poor  Norva's  money  had  bought  all  those 
comforts  and  luxuries,  while  she  was  an  inmate  of 
the  lonely  sea-girt  castle. 

Shortly  after  lunch,  a  man-servant  entered  with 
a  letter.  Lawrence  recognized  his  father's  hand- 
writing at  once,  and  his  face  lighted  up  with  a 
great  joy. 

"All  must  be  well  at  last,"  he  muttered.     "I 


212  HE     MUST     BE     TAKEN. 

must  now  be  master  of  that  vast  property  across 
the  sea,"  and  he  hastily  broke  the  seal  and  read 
that  which  made  him  gnash  his  teeth  with  rage. 
He  threw  the  letter  from  him,  and  a  low,  muttered 
curse  escaped  his  compressed  lips,  and  he  said  in 
a  low  voice : 

"Escaped  from  Lind  Hurst!  That  is  some- 
thing I  had  not  looked  for.  That  idiot  of  a 
doctor,  to  have  the  weakness  to  be  taken  in  by 
the  fair  face  of  a  woman  !  " 

"  You  forget,  Lawrence,  that  you  love  a 
woman,"  said  Octavia,  with  a  playful  smile. 
"  But  what  troubles  you  ? "  and  she  came  to  his 
side  and  took  his  hand  as  she  spoke. 

"  More  than  enough  troubles  me,  my  darling. 
Mr.  Hampton  has  escaped  from  Lind  Hurst,  and 
all  through  Dr.  Hurst's  foolish  love  for  a  woman, 
who  by  some  means  or  other  found  out  Plampton 
was  there,  and  by  a  well-formed  plan,  and  acting 
through  the  doctor's  great  weakness  for  herself, 
succeeded  in  releasing  him  from  the  asylum. 
Perhaps,  even  now,  he   may  be  on   his  way   to 


HE     MUST     BE     TAKEN.  21 


o 


America,  after  my  writing  to  that  old  lawyer 
Byrd,  that  he  was  dead,  and  his  daughter,  too. 
We  must  go  to  London  at  once,  and  if  he  has  not 
already  gone,  he  must  be  recaptured  and  taken 
back  to  Lind  Hurst.  If  he  reaches  America,  we 
are  ruined !  Now,  love,  prepare  for  this  journey 
at  once.  We  have  no  time  to  lose.  This  man 
must  be  secured,  and  if  the  worst  comes  to  the 
worst,  he  must  be  silenced  forever.  I  swear  by  all 
that  I  hold  sacred  on  earth,  and  that  is  my  love 
for  you,  Octavia,  to  possess  the  Hampton  wealth. 
We  will  now  go  to  London,  and  I  will  leave  you 
in  comfortable  quarters,  and  wdien  I  return  to  you 
again,  I  will  be  as  free  as  a  bird  of  the  air," 
and  he  strained  this  lovely  woman  to  his  bosom, 
and  his  eyes  looked  into  hers. 

Each  could  read  the  other's  thoughts,  and  each 
could  read  a  deadly  purpose. 


214        amy's  courage. 


CHAPTER  XXYL 


L 


AMY  S     COURAGE. 

ET  US  mark  Dr.  Hurst,  as  he  opens  his  eyes 
the  next  morning,  when  the  bright  winter 
sun  was  high  in  the  heavens.  At  first  he  could 
not  tell  where  he  was.  He  glanced  around  the 
room  in  a  strange,  bewildered  manner,  then  slowly 
it  dawned  upon  him  where  he  was.  Why  was 
he  there  ?  He  put  his  hand  to  his  head.  '^Ah  ! 
I  have  it ! "  he  said.  "  I  have  been  drugged. 
For  what  purpose?  And  by  whom?  Could  it 
have  been  by  Lady  May?  What  could  be  her 
object?"  He  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket  and  felt 
for  his  keys.  They  were  there.  He  arose  and 
his  head  felt  heavy.  He  went  to  the  bell-pull  and 
pulled  it  sharply.  James  soon  made  his  appear- 
ance. "Look  here,  my  man;  can  you  tell  me 
what  has  happened  to  me,  and  why  I  am  here  ?  " 
"  I  cannot,"  said  James.     "  Unless  you  drank 


amy's   courage.  215 

too  much  wine  and  overslept  yourself,  "whicli 
probably  is  the  case." 

"  Hardly,"  said  the  doctor.  "  Go  and  send  your 
lady  to  me  at  once.  Perhaps  she  can  throw  some 
light  on  the  subject." 

James  left  the  room,  and  in  a  short  time  after, 
Amy  made  her  appearance.  She  did  not  tremble 
with  fright  as  some  women  would  have  done. 
Her  face  was  pale  and  her  lips  were  firmly  com- 
pressed, her  eyes  glowed  with  a  glad,  triumphant 
light,  and  her  heart  beat  fast  from  excitement,  and 
not  from  fear  of  the  dark  villain  that  stood  before 
her. 

"  Well !  Lady  May  Glenmore !  I  have  had 
quite  a  nap  since  three  this  morning,  and  now  'tis 
nearly  noon.  Can  you  account  for  it  in  any  way? 
Your  man — James,  I  think  you  call  him — says  I 
had  taken  too  much  wine.  But  I  never  take 
wine.  I  know  that  the  coffee  I  drank  in  this 
room  last  night  was  drugged,  and  it  must  have 
been  by  your  hands  alone,  as  you  insisted  on  pre- 
paring it  yourself  Now,  Lady  May,  tell  me  if  I 
am  not  right,  and  what  was  your  object." 


216  amy's   courage. 

Suddenly  a  strange  look  came  over  her.  A 
look  in  which  the  deepest  contempt  was  depicted, 
as  she  said : 

''  Dr.  Hurst,  you  are  right.  It  was  drugged  last 
night,  and  it  was  my  hands  that  prepared  it.  I 
will  tell  you  my  object  in  so  doing.  It  Avas  to  get 
possession  of  your  keys  and  retain  you  here,  until 
I  could  rescue  a  gentleman  from  Lind  Hurst,  who 
has  been  confined  there  for  over  a  year,  and  whose 
mind  is  as  clear  as  yours  or  mine  :  a  gentleman 
whom  you  have  tried  to  starve  and  destroy.  Not 
that  he  ever  harmed  you,  but  simply,  because  you 
w^ere  paid  well  to  keep  him  there,  with  a  promise 
to  be  paid  better  if  he  should  die  in  that  terrible 
asylum.  Thank  God,  he  is  safe  from  your  persecu- 
tions at  last ! "  said  Amy,  as  a  sweet  and  holy 
smile  j)layed  over  her  girlish  face.  "  I  know  that 
Mr.  Hampton  is  in  your  power  no  more — that  his 
days  of  persecution  are  over.  I  know  that  he  is 
in  Manchester  now,  where  you  dare  not  molest 
him,  and  I  wish  you  to  know  that  it  was  through 
me    that    all    has    been    accomplished :    through 


amy's   courage.  217 

me,  Lady  Hester  Glenniore  Spotswood's  grand- 
daughter. I  never  told  you  my  name  was  Lady 
May  Glenraore,  for  that  is  not  my  name.  I  have 
given  you  no  power  over  me.  I  have  simply 
worked  on  your  weakness,  and  have  succeeded  in 
effecting  Mr.  Hampton's  rescue  from  Lind  Hurst 
and  your  cruel  persecution.  Now  I  will  bid  you 
good-morning,  sir,  as  I  shall  be  very  busy  for  the 
next  few  days  in  getting  the  house  in  order  to 
receive  my  grandmother,  Lady  Hester." 

Amy  was  turning  to  leave  the  room,  when  Dr. 
Hurst  sprang  at  her  and  attempted  to  grasp  her 
hand. 

'^  Stand  back,  sir,  or  your  life  shall  pay  the 
forfeit!  I  came  to  this  room  prepared  to  meet 
and  deal  with  a  villain.  Lay  but  the  weight  of 
your  finger  upon  me,  and  I  will  shoot  you  with  as 
little  remorse  as  I  would  some  beast  of  prey,"  and 
the  soft,  delicate  hand  drew  forth  from  her  bosom 
a  silver-mounted  pistol,  which  she  held  firmly  in 
her  right  hand  ready  for  use,  should  circumstances 
so  demand. 


218  amy's   courage. 

The  doctor  saw  tins,  and  recoiled  a  step  or  two 
back,  and  his  generally  calm,  dark  face  became 
dangerous  in  its  aspect,  as  he  said  : 

"  My  beautiful  singing  bird,  you  have  played 
your  game  well,  but  I  will  hold  the  trump  card 
yet.  Ere  this  time  to-morrow  I  will  have  bagged 
my  escaped  game,  and  when  that  is  done  look  to 
yourself,"  and  the  smile  of  a  foiled  villain  played 
over  his  face  as  Amy  left  the  room,  and  he  found 
himself  alone. 

He  gathered  up  his  hat  and  great-coat  and 
hastily  left  the  house.  He  looked  for  his  horse. 
He  was  srone,  so  the  outwitted  ruffian  was  com- 
pelled  to  walk  to  Lind  Hurst.  When  he  was 
gone.  Amy  knelt  and  lifted  her  voice  to  God  in 
thanks  for  Mr.  Hampton's  delivery  from  the 
hands  of  his  persecutors. 

When  Dr.  Hurst  reached  the  asylum,  he  found 
his  horse  there,  and  no  one  seemed  surprised  at  his 
absence.  He  did  not  want  any  of  his  assistants  to 
know  how  a  woman  had  foiled  him,  and  he  said  to 
one  of  them : 


amy's   courage.  219 

"No.  27  escaped  from  me  last  night  when  I  had 
taken  compassion  on  him  and  took  him  out  for  a 
walk.  We  must  get  him  back;  he  is  one  of  the 
best  pajdng  patients  I  have.  He  is  in  Manchester. 
You  must  look  after  him  at  once,  Watson ;  watch 
every  avenue  and  see  that  he  does  not  reach 
London,  We  must  have  him  back  ;  I  say  loe  must,'^ 
and  a  strange  light  came  into  Dr.  Hurst's  eyes, 
and  a  peculiar  exjDression  settled  over  his  hand- 
some face. 

The  man  addressed  as  "  Watson "  understood 
his  meaning.  Dr.  Hurst  w^rote  a  few  hasty  lines 
to  Mr.  Hastings,  and  sent  them  to  Manchester. 
In  a  few  days  the  elder  Hastings  appeared  at  Lind 
Hurst,  and  gathered  the  full  particulars  of  all  that 
had  taken  place.  He  was  wild  with  anger  and  dis- 
may at  what  had  occurred,  and  WTote  at  once  the 
letter  to  his  son  which  determined  Lawrence's  and 
Octavia's  departure  for  London. 

A  month  later,  father  and  son  met  at  the  same 

club-rooms  where    we    have    seen    them   together 
before,  when  the  following  conversation  took  place. 


220  amy's   courage. 

"Cheer  up,  Lawrence;  he  is  safe  at  Lind  Hurst 
once  more.  We  had  a  chase,  I  can  tell  you;  but 
never  fear — all  is  well ;  the  way  is  open  now  for 
you  to  claim  the  Hampton  wealth.  I  advise  you 
to  have  Hampton  removed  from  Lind  Hurst  to 
Castle  Rook,  where  there  is  no  possible  chance  for 
escape;  for  when  his  friends,  whoever  they  are,  find 
he  is  again  missing,  they  will  search  for  him  at 
Lind  Hurst;  and  that  will  never  do.  He  must  be 
carried  to  Castle  Kook,  for  if  there  should  be  any 
trouble  raised  on  his  account.  Dr.  Hurst  can  throw 
open  his  doors  and  defy  the  law.  It  cannot  be 
proven  that  Hampton  was  recaptured  or  that  he 
was  of  sound  mind  when  he  escaped." 

"A  good  idea,"  said  Lawrence.  "  I  am  glad  the 
old  coon  is  safe  again,  and  also  glad  that  you  have 
hit  upon  a  plan  of  security.  I  will  tell  you  what 
we  must  do.  We  will  convey  him  to  the  Castle, 
and  leave  him  and  his  daughter  to  work  out  their 
own  salvation  there.  We  will  leave  them  a  small 
quantity  of  provisions,  and  post  old  Delgardo  and 
Jessine.  Of  course  the  provisions  will  soon  give 
out,  and  they  cannot  live  long  on  the  sea  air  at 


amy's   courage.  221 

Castle  Rook.  We  have  no  time  to  lose,  and  must 
remove  this  man  at  once.  Tell  me  who  is  this 
girl  that  helped  Norva's  f\ither  to  escape  ?  " 

Old  Mr.  Hastings'  face  became  as  pale  as  death, 
as  he  said :  "Amy  Le  Clare,  or  Amy  Hastings, 
your  half-sister." 

Lawrence  started  back  and  gasped,  as  he  said  : 
"Amy  Le  Clare  !  impossible  !  With  my  own  eyes 
I  saw  her  dead,  and  her  beautiful  pale  face  has 
haunted  me  ever  since  I  saw  her  lying  in  that 
mountain  cave  with  the  cold  death-damp  upon  her 
cold  face.  There  must  be  some  mistake;  your 
daughter  Amy  is  dead;  Walter  Hampton  is 
accused  of  being  her  murderer,  and  at  this  time  is 
in  a  criminal's  cell  awaiting  his  trial,"  said 
Lawrence,  thoughtfully,  and  a  dark,  gloomy  look 
settled  over  his  face.  "  But  we  must  not  stop  to 
speculate  on  this  questioi  ;  we  must  get  this  man 
safe  to  Castle  Rook,  and  the  sooner  the  better. 
Do  you  go  to  Lind  Hurst  at  once,  and  I  will  follow 
you  in  ten  days,  and  in  a  short  time  we  will  have 
all  safe  a2:ain.  This  time  there  shall  be  no 
escaping." 


222        LADT     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

LADY     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED. 

AFTER  attending  to  her  business  with  her 
lawyers,  Lady  Hester  had  fulfilled  her 
promise  to  Amy,  and  visited  Walter  in  prison. 
She  resumed  her  coarse,  plain  clothes,  not  w^ishing 
it  known  that  she  now  was  w^ealthy.  When  she 
called  at  the  jail  to  see  Walter,  every  one  supposed 
she  was  simply  plain  Hester  Spotswood.  To  poor 
Walter,  who  had  been  in  prison  for  many  months,^ 
her  face  was  as  the  face  of  an  angel.  All  his 
pleading  to  tell  him  where  Amy  might  be  found 
was  fruitless. 

When  Walter  w^as  released,  old  Silvia  fell  at 
his  feet,  and  sobbed  forth  : 

"Thank  God,  my  noble  boy  is  not  a  murderer! 
Poor  old  marse'  died  thinking  you  had  blood  on 
your  soul,  honey,  and  for  ober  two  years  I  has 
believed  the  same.  Massa  Walter,  will  you  forgib 
poor  old  Mammy  for  tinking  dis  ebil  of  you?" 


LADY     HESTEI?     IS     FOLLOWED.         223 

"  Yes,  Mammy  Silvia,  I  forgive  you,"  said 
Walter.  '^  But  oh !  that  my  poor  father  should  have 
died  thinking  me  guilty,  is  more  than  I  can  bear. 
What  a  broken-up  family  we  are — father  gone, 
and  my  sister  too ;  I  can  hardly  realize  it.  Then 
my  father's  will.  Lawrence  Hastings  is  now 
master  of  Hampton  Mead.  It  will  be  very  hard  to 
see  the  dear  old  home  pass  into  other  hands.  The 
greatest  blow  will  be  to  see  Lawrence  PLastings  the 
master  of  all  the  blacks  who  have  been  so  kindly 
treated,  for  he  is  a  man  without  honor  or  feeling. 
However,  I  will  try  to  earn  money  enough  to 
purchase  you  and  Isom.  Would  to  heaven  it  was 
in  my  power  to  save  you  all  from  this  man!  I 
am  going  away  now ;  perhaps  when  I  return,  I 
will  be  able  to  save  them  all." 

When  Hester  Spotswood  left  for  Wilmington, 
Walter  went  on  the  same  stage-coach  with  her, 
but  so  well  disguised,  that  she  had  no  suspicion 
that  the  old,  white-haired  man,  with  his  eyes 
shaded  by  a  pair  of  green  spectacles,  was  the 
handsome  Walter  Hampton. 


224         LADY     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED. 

Colonel  Field,  of  Cedar  Vale,  had  made  himself 
Walter's  banker  for  the  time,  and  consequently  he 
found  himself  not  without  money,  and  ready  to 
follow  Lady  Hester  to  ahnost  any  place  she 
might  go. 

When  they  reached  Wilmington,  what  was 
Walter's  surprise  to  see  Hester  at  the  hotel, 
dressed  in  a  rich  black  satin  dress,  with  soft,  rich 
lace  at  her  throat  and  wrists!  This  dress  was 
very  becoming  to  this  queenly  woman.  Walter 
was  still  more  astonished  next  day,  when  he 
followed  her  on  board  a  vessel  bound  for  Liverpool. 
He  also  took  passage  in  the  same  vessel. 

It  was  a  beautiful  spring  evening  when  Lady 
Hester  reached  Glen  Park,  and  found  Amy  and 
her  little  son  awaitins;  her.  There  was  an 
anxious,  yearning  look  on  Amj^'s  face,  and  her 
eyes  burned  with  excitement,  as  her  grandmother 
drew  her  to  her  heart. 

Amy  was  dressed  in  a  delicate  rose-colored  silk, 
with  rich,  creamy  lace  at  her  delicate  white  throat, 
with  white  roses  in  her  golden  hair  and  upon  her 


LADY     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED.         225 

bosom.  Never  had  she  appeared  so  beautiful  to 
Lady  Hester  as  she  did  on  this  evening  of  her 
arrival  from  America,  and  her  heart  ached  for  the 
lovely  creature  as  she  gazed  upon  her  tender, 
suffering  face,  and  thought  of  Walter  Hampton's 
great  anxiety  to  know  where  Amy  was. 

"  No  wonder  he  loves  this  fair  girl,"  she 
murmured,  and  her  conscience  smote  her  for  not 
having  told  Walter. 

She  saw  the  troubled  look  on  Amy's  face,  and 
said,  "Amy,  my  darling,  I  saw  Walter  Hampton ; 
he  is  well,  and  he  asked  about  you,  as  to  where 
you  were  living,  and  if  you  were  well." 

"Is  that  all?"  said  Amy,  in  a  voice  agitated 
with  emotion.  "  Did  he  not  ask  about  little 
Alfred?" 

"  No,  my  child,  he  did  not." 

Amy  covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  and  a 
low  cry  escaped  her  lips  as  she  fell  fainting  at  her 
grandmother's  feet.  Lady  Hester  had  seen  Wal- 
ter, and  she  had  hoped  so  much  from  this  meeting, 

but  it  was  all  over  now;    and  with  that  cry  of 
14 


226         LADY     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED. 

despair  that  escaped  her  lips,  she  surrendered  up 
all  hopes. 

Lady  Hester  stooped  to  lift  her  up ;  hut  a 
strong  arm  pushed  her  back,  and  a  deep  musical 
voice  said,  "  Mrs.  Spotswood,  this  is  my  wife ; 
mine  shall  be  the  hands  to  lift  her,  and  my  bosom 
henceforth  her  resting-place." 

Lady  Hester  raised  her  eyes  in  a  frightened 
manner,  and  beheld  her  stage-coach  companion, 
the  white-haired  old  gentleman  with  the  green 
glasses,  bending  over  the  still  form  of  Amy. 

"  Your  wife,  sir !  In  the  name  of  heaven,  sir, 
who  are  you?"  and  Lady  Hester  stepped  back 
trembling,  and  her  black  eyes  glowed  with  a 
strange  light.  Walter  tore  the  glasses  from  his 
eyes,  the  gray  wig  from  his  head,  and  the  long 
beard  from  his  face.  Ladj^  Hester  looked  at  him 
for  a  moment,  then  said,  sharply,  "  Walter 
Hampton,  what  are  you  doing  at  Glen  Park?" 

Walter  gathered  Amy  in  his  arms,  and  pressed 
her  to  his  heart,  as  he  said,  "  Mrs.  Spotswood,  you 
would  give  me  no  satisfaction  concerning  my  wife^ 


LADY     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED.         227 

SO  I  determined  to  follow  you  and  find  her,  if 
possible;"  and  then  he  pressed  his  lips  to  Amy's, 
and  held  her  to  his  bosom,  while  he  murmured, 
*'Amy,  Amy,  my  darling  wife  !  open  your  eyes  and 
speak  to  me.  My  love,  it  is  Walter,  your 
husband." 

Lady  Hester  sank  into  a  chair  and  said,  "Are 
you  her  husband?" 

"Yes,  madam,  I  am,"  said  Walter.  "For 
heaven's  sake,  get  me  something  to  recover  my 
loved  one." 

Lady  Hester  obeyed  him,  and  in  a  few  moments 
the  brown  eyes  opened,  and  rested  full  upon 
Walter's  face ;  then  they  closed  again,  and  she 
murmured,  "  Is  it  a  dream,  or  is  it  my  darling 
husband?" 

Walter  said,  "Amy,  my  precious  wife,  it  is  no 
dream  :  I  am  here,  your  husband.  It  is  I  who 
hold  you  in  my  arms,  as  in  the  by-gone  days  in 
the  cave  of  the  old,  dear  mountains." 

At  this,  the  eyes  looked  into  Walter's  face,  the 
fair,  snowy  arms  were  twined  about  his  neck,  and 


228    LADY  HESTER  IS  FOLLOWED. 

the  sweet  voice  that  had  power  to  stir  his  soul,  as 
no  other  voice  had,  said,  "  Oh,  Walter,  am  I  dream- 
ing, or  do  you  really  press  me  to  your  heart  again 
as  of  yore,  and  call  me  your  wife?" 

"  It  is  reality,  my  love,"  said  Walter.  "  In  the 
presence  of  your  grandmother,  I  press  you  to  my 
bosom  and  call  you  Wife — the  sweetest  and 
dearest  name  ever  uttered  by  man." 

With  a  low,  glad  cry.  Amy  sprang  from  her 
husband's  arms,  and  flew  to  Lady  Hester's  side, 
exclaiming,  "  Thank  God,  grandmother,  at  last  I 
am  risfhted  !  Walter  has  acknowleds:ed  the  bond 
that  binds  me  to  him.  Forgive  me,  grandmother, 
for  giving  you  one  heart's  pang;  I  have  never 
sinned  against  you  and  my  God.  I  promised 
Walter  on  the  evening  we  were  married,  not  to 
make  it  known  until  he  first  revealed  it,  or  gave 
me  the  right  to  do  so." 

The  proud  half-breed  bent  her  head,  and  her 
tall,  proud  form  swayed  like  some  noble  tree 
shaken  by  a  terrible  storm,  as  she  said : 

"Ah !  Amy  !  Amy,  my  child,  there  is  much  for 


LADY     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED.         229 

me  to  grieve  over.  If  I  had  known  how  matters 
stood  between  you  and  Walter  Hampton,  I  could 
have  saved  each  of  you  many  a  heart's  pang;  but 
as  it  is,  I  rejoice  that  he  has  found  you." 

Amy's  face  suddenly  beamed  happily,  as  her 
little  son  came  into  the  room.  She  raised  him  in 
her  arms  and  bore  him  to  his  father,  saying : 

"  Dear,  dear  husband,  have  you  no  word  of  love 
and  welcome  for  your  little  Alfred,  for  our  son  ?  '* 
and  the  father's  face  was  very  white,  and  the  voice 
was  low,  deep  and  sad,  as  he  said: 

^^Oh,  God!  I  thank  Thee  for  this  great 
blessing!"  Then  the  little  fellow  pillowed  his 
brown  head  on  his  father's  bosom,  and  his  tiny 
hands  caressed  Walter's  handsome  face  and  brown 
locks,  now  prematurely  threaded  with  silver.  "  Oh ! 
Amy,  my  darling  wife,  this  is  a  blessing  I  had  not 
expected,"  and  Walter  pressed  his  lips  to  his  little 
son's,  as  he  said,  "  My  dear  father,  if  you  could 
have  lived  to  see  my  joy,  and  know  that  you  had 
a  grandson  like  my  little  Alfred !" 

Amy,  at  this  outburst,  sat  down  beside  him, 


230        LADY     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED. 

laid  her  hand  on  his  knee,  and  told  him  of  liis 
father,  and  Lawrence  Hastings'  treachery.  For  a 
time,  Walter  sat  like  one  bereft  of  the  power  of 
speech  or  action ;  then  he  said : 

"  My  noble  wife,  what  do  I  not  owe  you  for  this 
great  service?" 

Lady  Hester  arose  and  took  Walter's  hand,  and 
bent  over  father  and  son,  as  she  said  : 

"Walter  Hampton,  forgive  me  for  all  I  have 
made  you  and  Amy  suffer.  If  I  had  known  what 
I  do  now,  I  should  have  acted  differently ;  but 
Amy  refused  to  acknowledge  that  she  was  your 
wife,  and  I  thought  that  I  was  acting  for  the 
best." 

Walter  arose,  kissed  this  stately  lady,  and  said: 

"  Dear  grandmother,  you  are  forgiven  freely. 
But  tell  me,  how  is  it  I  find  you  and  my  wife 
in  England,  living  in  a  style  a  prince  might 
envy  : 

Lady  Hester  told  him  what  the  reader  already 
knows. 

"  And  now,  Walter,  it  was  on  Amy's  account 


\ 


LADY     HESTER     IS      FOLLOWED.         231 

that  your  father  cast  you  off  because  you  loved 
and  married  a  simple  American  maiden.  Now, 
she  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  heiresses  in  England, 
or  will  be  when  I  am  dead,  and  in  the  natural  run 
of  events  that  will  not  be  long." 

"  I  hope  you  will  live  many,  many  years,"  said 
Walter,  for  her  kindness  touched  him  deeply.  He 
saw  that  she  was  truly  a  noble  woman,  for  her 
eyes  beamed  with  true  nobility  of  soul  as  they 
rested  upon  his  face,  and  she  said : 

"  Now  that  my  trust  and  confidence  in  my 
darling  Amy  are  restored,  I  feel  at  this  moment 
as  if  I  could  almost  give  up  my  revenge  upon 
her  father." 

'^Ah !  grandmother,  you  will  never  find  Amy's 
father,"  said  Walter.  "  Try  to  banish  him  from 
vour  mind." 

"  Yes,  I  shall  see  him  again.  I  have  seen  him 
several  times  in  America,  and  I  met  him  this 
evening  as  I  was  coming  home.  I  would  almost 
swear  this  man  is  Amy's  father,  and  if  so,  he  is 
preparing  the  rope  with  which  to  hang  himself; 


232        LADY     HESTER     IS     FOLLOWED. 

but  we  will  let  him  pass.  Now,  as  to  this  plot 
against  your  father,  Lawrence  Hastings  sent  word 
to  Hampton  Mead  that  he  was  dead,  while  he 
had  him  confined  at  Lind  Hurst.  Perhaps  your 
sister  shares  the  same  fate,"  said  Lady  Hester, 
thoughtfully. 

Walter  sprang  to  his  feet  and  began  to  pace  the 
floor,  and  at  length  said : 

"You  are  right,  grandmother.  I  do  not  believe 
that  Norva  is  dead.  I  must  first  find  my  father; 
then  I  will  track  this  villain,  Hastings,  and 
compel  him  to  tell  me  the  truth.  If  I  find  harm 
has  come  to  my  sister,  his  life  shall  pay  for  it." 


IS     THERE     NO     HOPE?  233 


CHAPTER   XXVIIL 

IS     THERE     NO     HOPE? 

THE  winds  moaned  sadly,  and  the  waves  beat 
drearily  against  the  old  ruins  where  poor 
Norva  was  confined.  Eighteen  months  had  passed 
since  that  gloomy  night  when  she  entered  its  walls 
with  such  dreary  forebodings,  and  in  all  that  time 
no  friendly  face  had  met  her  anxious  gaze,  no 
word  of  sympathy  had  fallen  on  her  ears.  She 
had  only  a  few  books  to  read,  and  some  fancy 
work  with  which  to  kill  the  hours  that  hung  so 
heavily  upon  her  hands.  She  had  now  exhausted 
all  her  resources,  and  could  procure  no  writing 
materials,  and  if  she  could,  felt  no  inclination 
to  use  them ;  for  what  would  it  avail  her  in  that 
lonely  sea-girt  prison  ?  She  could  only  sit  and 
brood  over  her  helpless  situation,  and  the  great 
wrong  that  had  been  done  her — and  by  him  she 


234  IS     THERE     NO     HOPE? 

had  loved  so  well  and  trusted  so  much,  but  whom 
she  now  loathed  with  the  deepest  bitterness. 

"  I  would  almost  rather  remain  here  for  life, 
than  look  upon  your  face  again,"  she  thought. 
"  There  is  more  real  happiness  for  me  in  listening 
to  the  wild  waves  sobbing  against  the  rocks,  than 
there  would  be  in  hearing  your  voice;  more 
beauty  to  look  out  upon  the  boundless  waste  of 
waters  and  watch  the  white-capped  waves  as  they 
wash  the  castle  walls,  than  to  behold  your  hand- 
some, treacherous  face.  If  it  was  only  me  you  had 
harmed,  I  could  endure  it  with  a  better  will ;  but 
to  know  that  you  have  my  dear  father  and  my 
poor  brother  also  in  your  toils,  is  too  much. 
Thank  God,  I  did  not  look  upon  your  father's  face 
a  few  weeks  ago  !  Ah,  Lawrence  Hastings !  liberty 
would  not  be  sweet,  if  it  came  at  your  hands ! " 
she  exclaimed,  and  she  knelt  at  her  window,  and 
her  lovely,  dreamy  eyes  sought  the  moon,  pale  and 
solitary  as  it  floated  in  the  azure  heavens;  and 
upon  w^hich  she  had  gazed  so  often  since  her 
dreary   abode    at   Castle   Rook.     The   moon   w^as 


IS     THERE     NO     HOPE?  235 

almost  full  that  nio'ht,  and  takins:  a  field-frlass 
from  a  rough  table,  she  surveyed  the  heavens  for  a 
time,  sweephig  her  eyes  across  the  starlit  vaults 
so  far  above  her.  At  last  she  lowered  her  glass, 
and  looked  down  on  the  sea.  How  black  the 
waters  looked  below  her,  in  the  shadows  of  the  old 
walls !  As  she  stood  there  lost  in  thought — of 
what,  we  shall  not  say — a  long,  deep  sob  fell  upon 
her  ears.  She  started,  and  a  new  light  shone  in 
her  dusky  eyes,  and  her  heart  throbbed  painfully, 
for  a  faint  ray  of  hope  had  entered  her  weary  soul. 
Was  one  of  her  heartless  jailers  ill,  and  if  so,  might 
she  not  take  advantage  of  them  and  perhaps  get 
possession  of  the  key  to  the  iron  gate  and  make 
her  escape  ?  Oh,  for  glorious  freedom  once  more  ! 
She  opened  the  door  softly,  and  saw  old  Jessine 
was  just  coming  out  of  the  room  back  of  hers, 
with  a  tray  in  her  hands.  Some  one  had  been 
served  with  refreshments.  Who  could  it  be?  Was 
it  Lawrence  or  his  father?  Old  Jessine  lifted  her 
head,  and  a  grim  smile  played  over  her  face,  as 
she  said; 


236  IS     THERE     NO     HOPE? 

"  I  have  another  guest,  madam.  Go  in  and  see 
him,  if  you  like." 

Norva  made  the  old  woman  no  reply,  but  grasped 
the  door  to  prevent  her  from  falling;  while  a 
deathy  pallor  came  over  her  face.  "  It  is  either 
Lawrence  Hastings  or  his  fath-er,"  she  thought, 
"  and  I  cannot  look  on  either  of  them." 

She  was  in  the  act  of  going  back  in  her  room, 
when  that  same  noise  again  fell  upon  her  ear. 

"  It  cannot  be  either  of  the  Hastings,  but  if  a 
stranger,  why  did  old  Jessine  bid  me  go  to  him? 
Would  she  not  think  I  would  appeal  to  them  for 
help?  Perhaps  there  is  another  prisoner !  I  will 
go  in  and  see ! "  she  muttered,  as  she  nerved  her- 
self to  knock  at  the  door. 

A  low,  broken  voice  bade  her  come  in.  She 
lifted  the  latch  and  entered.  Near  the  fire,  with 
his  face  buried  in  his  thin,  pale  hands,  sat  a  man 
with  hair  almost  as  white  as  snow.  He  did  not 
lift  his  head  as  she  entered.  That  strange  instinct 
implanted  in  our  hearts  led  Norva  to  this  man's 
side,  and  an  impulse  she  could  not  resist  caused 
her  to  lay  her  hand  on  his  head,  and  say : 


IS     THERE     NO     HOPE?  237 


C( 


Who  are  you  ?  In  the  name  of  heaven, 
speak ! " 

At  the  tones  of  her  voice  the  head  was  lifted, 
and  for  a  moment  Norva  stood  like  one  in  a 
dream.  She  did  not  cry  out;  her  tongue  refused 
to  perform  its  functions,  but  the  man  sprang  to  his 
feet,  exclaiming : 

"  God  be  praised  !  my  daughter,  that  I  find  you 
alive ! " 

The  stony  eyes  gave  him  back  no  look  of 
recognition,  and  the  lips  still  were  mute.  Mr. 
Hampton  gathered  his  suffering  daughter  to  his 
breast,  and  sat  down  with  her  in  his  lap,  while  he 
chafed  her  cold  hands  and  pressed  kiss  upon  kiss 
on  her  lips.  Then  he  laid  her  upon  the  rude  bed 
and  forced  some  water  between  her  lips. 

Just  then  Jessine  again  appeared.  Mr.  Hampton 
sprang  at  her  and  grasped  her  by  the  arm  with 
such  force  that  she  cried  out  with  pain.  In  a  few 
moments  old  Delgardo  came  in,  followed  by  a 
great  brawny-fisted  man  with  a  brutal  face,  and 
in  a  moment  more  Mr.  Hampton  lay  senseless  on 


238  IS     THERE     NO     HOPE? 

the  floor ;  then  they  bore  him  from  the  room,  while 
Jessine  carried  Norva  to  her  dreary  chamber  and 
Laid  her  upon  her  bed,  locking  her  in,  while  she 
muttered  to  herself:  "  Madam  will  never  look  on 
her  father's  face  again ;  he  is  in  the  tower  chamber 
now,  and  will  never  leave  it  alive." 

The  old  woman  went  to  her  room  and  sat  down 
to  think.     Soon  she  was  joined  by  her  husband. 

"  Well,  Pedro,  have  you  got  the  old  man  safe  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Jessine,  safe  in  the  tower  at  last.  I  hope 
they  will  both  soon  give  in,  for  I  am  getting  tired 
of  this  place,  and  want  to  go  back  to  London. 
Now  that  we  have  plenty  of  money  to  spend,  I 
long  to  see  some  of  my  old  chums  open  their  eyes 
at  the  way  old  Pedro  Delgardo  spends  monej^" 

"  Yes,  Pedro,  the  provisions  will  last  yet  three 
months ;  then,  when  that  is  gone,  we  will  go ;  per- 
haps before."  Then  Pedro  laughed  a  low,  cruel 
lauah. 

Ere  the  sun  arose  the  next  morning  old  Jessine 
went  to  Norva's  room,  and  found  her  prisoner 
sitting  up  in  bed  staring  wildly  about  her,  and  the 
poor,  half-crazed  creature  said : 


IS     THERE     NO     HOPE?  239 

"Old  woman,  where  am  I?  and  where  is  my 
father  ?  " 

"You,  madam,  are  still  in  Castle  Rook,  and 
your  father  is,  I  reckon,  at  Lind  Hurst;  if  he  is 
not  dead." 

"  No !  no  !  he  is  not  dead  !  He  was  here  last 
night!  I  saw  him  in  the  next  room  after  you 
bade  me  go  to  him." 

"You  have  had  a  strange  dream,  madam.  There 
is  no  one  in  the  next  room.  You  must  have  been 
walking  in  your  sleep  some  time  during  the  night. 
I  heard  a  noise  and  got  up  to  see  what  it  was ;  and 
I  found  you  lying  in  the  corridor.  I  took  you  up 
and  bore  jou  in  here." 

"  But,  Jessine,  I  did  see  my  father,  and  he  was 
so  terribly  changed.  His  hair  was  white  as  snow, 
and  his  tall  form  was  thin  and  bent.  Yes,  yes,  I 
saw  him  or  his  ghost ;  but  as  I  don't  believe  in 
ghosts,  I  must  have  seen  my  father.  He  has 
traced  me  to  this  place,  and  you  have  made  away 
with  him.  Oh  !  my  poor !  poor  father !  "  she 
cried,  with  a  sad  wail  of  anguish,  and  the  eyes 


240  IS     THERE     NO     HOPE? 

that  used  to  look  so  tender,  burned  with  the  awful 
light  of  insanity  brought  on  by  suffering  and 
excitement. 

For  days  and  weeks  she  lay  there,  sick  and 
solitary,  while  her  father  remained  a  prisoner  in 
the  tower  chamber.  He  did  not  know  she  was 
ill.  He  only  knew  he  could  not  get  to  her.  He 
was  chained  to  the  wall  like  a  felon  or  a  maniac, 
and  felt  that  if  aid  did  not  come  soon  from  some 
quarter  his  frail  frame  would  succumb,  and  his 
enemies  would  triumph. 


WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     KNEW.        241 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     KNEW. 

WALTER  HAMPTON  did  not  remain  long 
at  Glen  Park,  but  went  to  London  at  once, 
to  see  if  he  could  find  any  trace  of  his  father. 
After  weeks  of  fruitless  search  he  returned  to  the 
Park,  where  Lady  Hester  suggested  to  him  the 
propriety  of  calling  on  the  proper  authorities,  and 
compelling  Dr.  Hurst  to  admit  them  in  search 
of  the  missing  man.  ^Yalter  acted  upon  the 
suGTsiestion,  but  without  success. 

CO  y 

He  then  thought  his  father  mi^ht  have  sfone 
home  to  America ;  and  with  this  idea,  he  and 
Amy  left  their  little  son  with  Lady  Hester,  and 
set  out  for  Hampton  Mead.  They  reached 
"Wilminjiton  in  due  time,  and  then  took  the  sta":e 
for  B . 

Yv^ith  what  different  hopes  and  feelings  Walter 

passed  over  this  road  now,  than  when  following 
15 


242        WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     K  N  E  TT. 

Hester  Spotswood  in  search  of  liis  lost  wife,  who 
now  sat  beside  him  ! 

When  they  reached  B ,  they  secured  a  con- 
veyance to  take  them  to  Colonel  Field's.  As  they 
were  driving  slowly  along,  a  voice,  singing  a  song 
Walter  had  so  often  heard  Mammy  Silvia  sing  in 
his  childhood,  made  him  tarn  to  the  driver,  and 
say,  "  Drive  slowly,  David ;  I  think  I  know  that 
voice,"  and  a  hapj^y  light  appeared  in  his  face. 

How  many  of  us  have  listened  to  the  sweet 
melodies  of  the  negroes  on  the  plantations,  the 
memory  of  which  brings  back  to  us  sweet  recollec- 
tions of  the  past,  before  the  cares  of  life  had 
darkened  our  childhood's  happy  days.  The  song 
that  so  interested  Walter  was  this : 

"I's  jist  on  de  borders  ob  de  new  Jeruselim, 
I's  jist  on  de  borders  ob  de  new  Jeruselim, 
I's  jist  on  de  borders  ob  de  new  Jeruselim, 
And  I  'spects  to  meet  my  child'en  dare." 

"  That  is  Mammy  Silvia,  and  I  must  see  her," 
said  Walter,  springing  from  the  carriage  and 
going  to  a  fence,  in  the  direction  from  which  the 


WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     K  N  E  TT.        243 

voice  came.  He  called  softly,  "  Mammy  Silvia," 
and  in  a  few  moments  he  was  answered,  by  seeing 
the  old  woman  make  her  appearance  from  behind 
a  clump  of  chestnuts,  and  with  a  glad  cry  on  her 
lips,  she  sprang  to  the  fence  and  clasped  his  hand, 
while  tears  of  real  joy  rolled  down  her  dusky 
cheeks. 

"Oh,  Mars'er  Walter!  I  is  so  glad  to  see  you 
is  come  back  to  save  me  and  Isom  ! " 

"To  save  you  and  icho?''  said  Walter,  kindly. 

"We. has  been  sold,  Mars'er  Walter,  Isom  and 
me,  to  Mr.  Led  ford." 

"And  who  sold  you.  Mammy  ?  No  one  had  the 
right  to  do  so  save  my  father,  and  it  is  strange  he 
would  part  with  you.  Has  my  father  been  at  the 
Mead?" 

Silvia  s  eyes  opened  with  wonder  at  this  ques- 
tion, and  she  said,  "No,  Mars'er  Walter;  old 
mars'er  can't  come  from  his  grave  ober  the  ocean. 
It  was  dat  white-libered  debil  of  a  Hastings  as 
sold  me  and  Isom,  and  saunt  Mr.  Wilkes  McCord 
higher  dan  eber  you  saunt  your  kite.     Less  dan  a 


244        WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     KNEW. 

month  ago,  dis  borned  he-debil  and  dat  beautiful 
she-debil,  Octavia  Stanley,  arribed  at  de  Mead. 
Dey  say  day  is  man  and  wife.  But,  Mars'er 
Walter,  come  close  to  me,  an'  listen  to  what  I  has 
to  tell  you.  I  always  said  I  would  get  eben  wif 
dat  debil,  and  I  has;  but  I  has  kept  my  own 
counsel.  No  one  knows  what  I  knows,  not  eben 
Isom.  A  few  nights  arter  dis  two  debils  had  arribed 
at  de  Mead,  I  ebe-drops,  and  I  heard  something 
dat  makes  me  fink  Miss  Norva  am  still  libing.  I 
has  been  biding  my  time  until  you  come  back." 

"  What  did  you  hear  ?  "  asked  Hampton. 

"You  see,  mars'er,  as  I  said  afore,  arter  dease 
two  debils  had  been  at  de  Mead,  I  was  hid  in  de 
shrubbery  near  dem,  and  I  heard  Mr.  Hastings 
say,  '  This,  my  lub,  pays  us  for  all  our  years  of 
plotting  and  planning ; '  and  she  say  to  him,  '  Yes, 
Lawrence;  but  if  she  was  dead,  I  should  feel  more 
secure,  now  dat  her  father  is  out  of  de  way.'  Den 
he  say,  '  My  fair,  queenly  Octavia,  hab  no  fears ; 
in  dat  old  tumble-down  Castle  Eook  on  de  shores 
ob  Carm,   Coin,  Con  someting,   I  couldn't  zactly 


WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     KNEW.        245 

cotcli  de  meaning  ob  de  words  just  what  it  was; 
but  he  say  she  will  soon  be  out  ob  de  way." 

"  Was  it  Cornwall  ? "  said  Walter,  deeply 
agitated. 

"  Dat's  it,  mars'er!  Cornwall!  dat's  it,  honey! 
Den  he  made  some  light  remarks  about  my  young 
mist'ess,  dat  made  me  so  mad  I  sprang  out  before 
dem  an'  said,  in  dat  debil's  face,  he  was  a  liar.  I 
wish  you  could  hab  seen  his  look  ob  rage  as  I  told 
him ;  if  eber  I  saw  a  white  debil,  he  was  one. 
He  sprang  at  me  an''  fell  me  to  de  ground,  but 
as  I  went  down  I  grabbed  his  har'  wif  both  hands 
an  took  him  wif  me,  but  somehow  arter  dat  I 
diden't  know  anything  for  a  long  time.  Some  time 
arter  dis  setto,  Mr.  Hastings  come  to  mine  an' 
Isom's  cabin,  and  say  good  to  me  like,  'Aunt 
Silvia,  what  did  you  hear  last  night  that  made 
you  so  mad,  an'  made  you  fly  at  me  in  such  a 
passion  ? '  '  You  called  my  young  mist'ess  names,' 
I  said,  an'  then  to  keep  him  from  thinking  I  had 
heard  more,  I  said  kinder  soft  like,  '  Mr.  Hastings, 
I  can't  hear  any  one  say  anyfing  against  my  dead 


246        WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     KNEW. 

mist'ess.'  ^Is  dat  all  you  heard,  old  woman?'  lie 
said,  an'  he  looked  at  me  sharp.  'It  am  all  I 
heard,  so  help  me  heben,  Mr.  Hastings.'  For  yoa 
see,  Mars'er  Walter,  I  was  afraid  dat  if  he  knew 
what  I  had  heard  him  say,  him  an'  dat  beautiful 
debil  would  have  killed  me.  De  next  day  a 
trader  comes  along,  an'  me  and  Isom  was  sold  an' 
had  to  leave  de  dear  old  Mead ;  but  afore  we 
reached  town  we  met  Mr.  Ledford,  an'  I  ax  him 
to  buy  me  an'  Isom,  an'  he  was  glad  ob  de  chance, 
an'  in  no  time  de  bargain  was  struck.  But  no 
one  knows  what  I  knows,  Mars'er  Walter,  but 
yourself." 

"Thank  God,  Mammy,  you  were  not  taken 
away  from  the  neighborhood.  Even  if  you  had 
been,  you  would  have  been  traced  and  returned  in 
time.  Even  if  my  sister  were  dead,  that  villain 
had  no  right  to  sell  you,  for  my  father  is  living, 
or  was,  in  April.  My  fair,  sweet  wife  rescued 
him  from  an  insane  asylum  in  England." 

"Your  wife,  Mars'er  Walter!  Is  you  mar- 
ried?" 


WHAT     MAMilT     SILVIA     KNEW.        247 

"  Yes,  Maminy.  Come  with  me  to  the  carriage 
and  see  if  you  ever  saw  her  before.  And  have  no 
fears,  Mammv,  for  ere  the  sun  sroes  down  to- 
morrow  I  will  purchase  you  and  Isom,  and  leave 
you  at  Colonel  Field's,  until  I  again  cross  the 
water  and  search  for  my  dear  sister  and  father." 

Walter  then  spoke  of  his  beautiful  boy  at  Glen 
Park,  with  his  grandmother,  Lady  Hester,  and 
Silvia  laugjhed  and  cried  at  the  same  time. 
Silvia  thoug:ht  for  a  moment,  then  said : 

"Did  you  marry  a  widow,  Mars'er  Walter?" 

"  No,  Mammy.  But  here  we  are.  Did  you 
ever  see  that  lady  before?"  said  Walter,  while  a 
proud  light  shone  from  his  eyes. 

Silvia  paused,  and  her  eyes  looked  wild,  as  she 
cried : 

"  Miss  Amy  Le  Clare !  as  sure  as  my  name  is 
Silvia  Turner!  Miss  Amy  Le  Clare,  alive  sure 
enough!     An'  she  is  your  wife?'* 

"Yes,  Mammy,  my  angel  wife,  and  has  been 
for  over  three  years.  It  was  my  great  love  for 
her  that  made  my  father  cast  me  off.    He  thouglit 


248        WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     KNEW. 

I  had  done  her  a  great  wrong,  and  thinks  so  still. 
I  intended  to  have  told  him  all  on  that  sad 
morning  he  drove  me  from  home,  but  he  was  so 
angry  and  wounded  he  would  not  listen,  and  I  had 
to  leave  him  with  the  secret  of  my  marriage  still 
locked  in  my  bosom.  Speak  to  my  wife.  Mammy, 
and  we  will  hasten  on  to  Colonel  Field's,  and  in  the 
morning  I  will  ride  over  to  Mr.  Ledford's  and  get 
you  and  old  Isom." 

Silvia  went  to  Amy,  and  bowing  low  held  out 
her  hand,  saying : 

''  I  is  most  happy  to  welcome  you  into  our 
family,  Miss  Amy,  and  pray  dat  dare  is  brighter 
days  in  store  for  us  yet." 

"  Thank  you,  ,  Aunt  Silvia,  I  hope  so,"  said 
Mrs.  Hampton,  kindly,  as  she  took  Silvia's  hand 
and  pressed  it  warmly. 

As  Walter  was  about  to  step  into  the  carriage, 
he  said,  in  a  low  tone,  to  Mammy: 

"  Tell  no  one  that  we  suspect  that  my  father 
and  sister  are  living,  and  we  will  spring  a  trap 
for  this  villain  Hastings,  and  that  shameless 
creature  who  is  with  him." 


WHAT     MAM3IY     SILVIA     KNEW.        249 

"Hie,  Mars'er  Walter!  you  won't  cotch  dis 
chile  napping,  honey;  I  knows  just  how  we  has 
got  to  deal  wid  de  debil." 

When  Walter  reached  Colonel  Field's  he  found 
his  friend  Charlie  and  a  lovely  wife.  Walter  intro- 
duced his  wife,  who  was  warmly  received  by  all 
the  family,  and  great  was  their  astonishment 
when  they  learned  who  she  was. 

Walter  did  not  mention  any  of  the  strange 
events  that  had  come  to  his  knowledge  to  any 
but  his  friend  Charlie,  and  after  he  had  told  all, 
said : 

"Now,  Charlie,  I  want  you  and  Clift'  Wilbern 
to  return  with  me  to  England,  and  help  me  to 
prosecute  a  thorough  search  for  my  father  and 
sister.  I  will  not  go  to  the  Mead  now,  but  we 
will  set  out  on  the  day  after  to-morrow  for 
Wilmington,  and  catch  the  first  vessel  that  leaves 
that  port." 

"  Certainly,  Walter,  I  will  aid  you  with  all  my 
heart." 

Next  day  Charlie  and  Walter  rode  over  to  Mr. 


250       WHAT     MAMMY     SILVIA     KNEW." 

Ledford's  and  returned  with  Silvia  and  Isom. 
They  blessed  the  beautiful  young  mistress  whose 
wealth  had  purchased  them.  Old  Silvia  begged 
so  hard  to  go  with  her  Miss  Amy,  that  the  next 
day,  when  Charlie,  Walter  and  Amy  started  for 
Wilmington,  Silvia  accompanied  them,  while  tears 
and  smiles  wreathed  her  old  black  face,  the  one  at 
parting  with  Isom,  the  other  in  being  permitted  to 
go  in  search  of  her  other  "chile,"  as  she  called 
poor  Norva. 


THE     half-breed's     REVENGE.       251 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE     half-breed's     REVENGE. 

SOME  two  weeks  after  Walter  and  Amy  had 
left  Glen  Park  for  America,  the  elder 
Hastings  called  on  Lady  Hester.  He  felt  a  desire 
to  look  on  the  face  of  his  daughter  without  being 
known.  It  was  a  lovely  May  morning,  and  the 
sweet  songsters  of  the  trees  made  the  soft  morning 
air  musical  with  their  rich  notes.  As  Mr. 
Hastings  walked  slowly  up  to  the  fine  old  man- 
sion, he  cast  many  an  admiring  glance  at  the 
beautiful  home  of  his  fair  young  daughter,  and  for 
a  moment  thought  that  this  might  have  been  his 
home,  if  he  had  acted  honestly.  /All  that  was  past 
now,  so  he  wandered  on  up  to  the  house. 

Little  Alfred  was  playing  on  the  lawn,  watched 
by  old  Susette.  The  beautiful  child  had  a  string 
around  the  neck  of  a  small,  Scotch  terrier  dog, 
which  was   trying   to  get   away  from   him,   and 


252      THE   half-breed's   revenge. 

which  brought  forth  a  merry  peal  of  laughter  from 
his  red  lips  at  its  struggles.  It  did  not  escape 
until  it  saw  Mr.  Hastings,  and  then  breaking 
from  Alfred,  it  Hew  towards  him  as  he  was  ascend- 
ing the  broad  marble  steps,  and  catching  his  hand 
suddenly  in  its  sharp  teeth  drew  the  blood,  and 
then  ran  away.  An  angry  frown  passed  over  Mr. 
Hastings'  face  as  he  lifted  the  great  brass  Icnocker. 

In  a  short  time  he  was  admitted  by  old  James, 
and  shown  into  a  pleasant  morning-room,  where 
he  was  soon  joined  by  Lady  Hester.  A  faint 
smile  curled  her  lips  as  she  came  into  the  room 
and  recognized  her  visitor.  Mr.  Hastings  thought 
he  had  never  before  looked  on  such  a  splendid- 
looking  woman.  He  rose  at  her  entrance  and 
held  out  his  hand,  but  Lady  Hester  did  not  seem 
to  see  it,  as  she  said,  "  Mr.  Hastings,  I  have  been 
looking  for  you  to  call  for  several  days,  and  since 
my  granddaughter  and  her  husband  departed  for 
America,  I  have  been  most  anxious  to  see  you," 
and  her  great  black  eyes  never  left  his  face. 

She  sank  into  the  nearest  chair,  and  motioned 


THE     half-breed's   REVENGE.         253 

her  visitor  to  be  seated.  Just  then  James  came  to 
the  door  with  a  scared,  pale  look  on  his  honest 
face,  bearing  little  Alfred  in  his  arms.  Lady 
Hester  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  said,  ^'  In  the  name 
of  heaven,  James,  what  has  happened  to  Amy's 
child?" 

"  Nothing,  I  hope.  Lady  Hester,"  said  James, 
hurriedly ;  "  but  little  Alfred's  Scotch  terrier  has 
become  rabid ;  I  have  him  secure  now.  As  he 
comes  out  of  one  fit  he  goes  into  another;  it  is 
fearful  to  see  him  suffer,  and  the  green  froth 
issuing  from  his  mouth." 

''Kill  him  at  once,"  said  Lady  Hester,  taking 
her  grandchild  in  her  arms,  as  all  the  color  left 
her  face. 

She  glanced  at  Mr.  Hastings,  who  sat  with  a 
look  of  horror  on  his  pale  face. 

"Are  you  ill,  Mr.  Hastings?"  she  said. 

Her  visitor  did  not  answer  her,  but  said,  "  Can 
it  be  possible  the  dog  is  mad?  He  drew  the  blood 
from  my  hand  as  I  came  in,  but  I  did  not  notice 
anything  strange  about  him." 


254      THE   half-breed's   revenge. 

"  I  am  sorry,  sir ;  but  I  fear  it  is  as  James  says, 
and  if  that  is  the  case,  you  are  a  doomed  man ; 
and,  knowing  how  badly  you  must  feel,  I  will  not 
try  to  torture  you  further,  but  will  merely  say, 
God  is  just,  and  punishes  his  law-breakers  even 
in  this  world." 

Mr.  Hastings  looked  at  the  speaker  with  white 
lips,  and  said,  *'  What  do  you  mean,  Lady 
Hester?" 

She  answered,  "  Where  is  Mr.  Hampton's 
beautiful  daughter,  and  where  is  my  fair,  sweet 
child,  whom  you  decoyed  from  her  home  in 
Norfolk   twenty   years   ago?" 

"  Why  do  you  ask  me  for  your  child,  madam  ? 
Did  you  not  tell  me  she  died  years  ago  ? "  and  Mr. 
Hastings'  knees  trembled ;  for  at  every  heart-throb 
of  this  man,  the  poison  was  spreading  through  his 
system.  Lady  Hester  looked  at  him  long  and 
earnestly.  She  thought  of  her  beautiful  daughter 
so  cruelly  wronged,  and  of  the  feeling  of  revenge 
that  had  slumbered  in  her  bosom  so  long;  and 
looking  at  this  pale,  horror-stricken  man,  she  said, 


THE     half-breed's     REVENGE.        255 

"  There  are  some  things  in  this  world,  Mr.  Hast- 
ings, that  once  done,  can  never  be  undone ;  but 
you  can  make  amends  so  far  as  to  acknowledge 
your  sin  against  my  daughter,  and  tell  where 
you  and  your  son  Lawrence  have  hidden  Norva 
Hastings;  I  am  confident  she  is  not  dead." 

A  sickly  smile  played  over  his  pallid  face,  as  he 
said,  "  Lady  Hester,  I  am  too  old  to  be  frightened 
into  making  any  acknowledgments  against  my 
will.  This  is  a  fine  story,  got  up  about  a  mad 
dog,  to  try  and  frighten  me." 

Lady  Hester  arose,  and  gave  Alfred  into  the 
care  of  Susette,  and  said,  "  Come  with  me,  Mr. 
Hastings  :  we  will  see  for  ourselves." 

Old  James  was  almost  in  the  act  of  shooting 
the  dog  when  they  went  out. 

"  Wait  a  moment,  James  :  I  wish  to  watch  the 
dog  for  a  v/hile,  to  be  sure  he  is  mad." 

"  There  can  be  no  mistake  as  to  that,  my  lady, 
and  I  shudder  to  think  what  a  narrow  escape  our 
little  Alfred  had." 

"Yes,  Lady  Hester,  the  man  is  right;  the  dog 


256      THE   half-breed's   revenge. 

* 

is  mad,  and  I  must  have  medical  aid  at  once," 
he  said. 

"  Too  late,  sir :  even  if  at  any  time  there  was  a 
shadow  of  hope ;  for  in  a  case  of  this  kind  your 
doom  is  sealed,  sooner  or  later.  It  may  be  days, 
it  may  be  weeks  or  months,  but  the  end  is  bound 
to  come,"  said  Lady  Hester,  solemnly.  "  Not 
even  your  friend  Dr.  Hurst  can  save  you." 

Lady  Hester  and  her  visitor  went  back  to 
the  house,  and  Alfred's  grandmother  carefully 
examined  him  to  make  sure  he  had  escaped  the 
awful  doom  that  hung  over  Mr.  Hastings. 

"  This,  sir,  is  the  son  of  Walter  Hampton  and 
Amy  Le  Clare.  They  are  now  on  their  way  to 
America,  in  search  of  Mr.  Hampton,  who  has  not 
been  heard  from  since  my  granddaughter  rescued 
him  from  Lind  Hurst.  It  was  reported  he  was 
dead,  but  as  that  is  false,  I  feel  convinced  that 
you  and  your  son  have  Norva  confined  in  some 
place  as  bad,  if  not  worse.  Tell  me  where  she  is: 
and  why  you  assumed  the  name  of  Le  Clare  to 
destroy  my  beautiful  daughter." 


THE     half-breed's     REVENGE.        257 

After  a  little  while,  he  said:  "Lady  Hester,  why 
do  you  think  it  I  that  took  your  daughter  from 
Norfolk?" 

"  Many  things  lead  me  to  believe  so.  The 
description  I  had  of  your  person  from  my 
daughter  before  her  death,  and  the  strange 
likeness  there  is  at  times  between  Amy  Hamp- 
ton and  yourself,  and  when  I  first  met  you  in 
America,  I  felt  you  w^ere  the  man.  When  I 
told  you  the  story  of  my  poor  Amy's  wrongs, 
and  you  trembled,  I  knew,  as  well  as  if  my  Amy 
had  come  and  told  me,  you  were  the  man  that 
called  yourself  Le  Clare,  and  that  you  were  the 
father  of  my  beloved  granddaughter.  At  one  time 
I  had  planned  a  terrible  revenge  on  you ;  but  God 
has  seen  fit  to  take  things  in  his  own  hands.  How 
much  wiser  and  kinder  He  is  than  we  poor  worms 
of  the  dust!  My  revenge  in  its  bitterest  form 
could  not  equal  this  horrid  torture  you  must  carry 
in  your  soul  the  few  remaining  days  you  will  have 
to  remain  in  this  world." 

Mr.    Hastings    trembled    as    he    said :    "  Lady 
16 


258     THE    half-breed's    revenge. 

Hester,  I  will  tell  you  one  thing,  and  that  is  all. 
Your  daughter  was  my  wife.  We  were  legally 
married,  and  I  will  give  you  the  marriage  certifi- 
cate, if  that  will  be  of  any  satisfaction  to  you.  I 
did  your  daughter  a  great  wrong  when  I  told  her 
she  was  not  my  wife,  and  when  I  deserted  her  as 
I  did.  As  to  Norva  Hastings,  she  is  dead.  And 
now  I  will  hold  my  daughter's  son  in  my  arms ; 
then  bid  you  good-morning.  I  came  here  thinking 
to  see  my  daughter ;  but  perhaps  I  will  never  see 
her.  It  is  well,  perhaps.  She  can  have  but  little 
love  for  me,"  he  said,  gloomily,  as  he  took  Walter's 
and  Amy's  wondering  child  in  his  arms  and  pressed 
his  lips  to  the  little  one's  innocent  face,  and  put 
him  down.  He  looked  at  him  for  a  time,  then 
turned  to  leave  Glen  Park,  but  Lady  Hester 
pressed  him  to  stay  beneath  her  roof;  but  he  said 
he  would  go,  and  return  at  the  end  of  a  week. 

He  did  so,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  eleventh 
day,  as  he  was  making  his  toilet  for  breakfast, 
he  was  taken  with  spasms.  Everything  was  done 
for  him  that  was  possible :  but  all  to  no  purpose. 


THE    half-breed's    reyenge.      259 

In  three  days,  he  who  had  caused  so  much  suffer- 
ing to  others  passed  away.  From  the  day  the  dog 
bit  him  until  his  death,  his  mind  had  been  in 
awful  dread  and  horror,  and  words  could  not 
express  the  fearful  physical  tortures  he  endured, 
knowing,  as  he  did,  what  must  be  his  wretched 
fate,  the  most  horrible  of  deaths.  It  was  not 
known  where  he  spent  the  time  after  he  left  Glen 
Park,  until  his  return,  but  Lady  Hester  supposed 
he  went  to  Lind  Hurst.  After  his  death  she  had 
him  buried  with  care;  for  he  had  been  the  hus- 
band of  her  daughter,  and  Amy  Hampton's  father. 


260  FATHER     AND     DAUGHTER. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

FATHER    AND    DAUGHTER. 

FOUR  months  have  passed  since  Mr.  Hampton 
was  consigned  to  the  tower  at  Castle  Rook. 
Old  Delgardo  and  his  wife  had  taken  their 
departure  for  London,  and  father  and  daughter 
were  left  to  themselves.  Again,  it  is  a  night  of 
storm  and  darkness,  and  never  had  the  prisoners' 
prospects  looked  so  gloomy  as  now;  neither  had 
tasted  food  since  the  night  before,  for  there  was 
none  at  hand,  and  they  had  been  left  to  perish  by 
starvation.  As  the  storm  rages  in  its  fury,  Norva 
slowly  and  with  faltering  steps  goes  to  her  father's 
side,  laid  her  head  on  his  knee,  and  said : 

"  Father,  dear  father,  it  will  soon  be  over. 
Soon  we  will  be  beyond  the  reach  of  our  cruel 
persecutors,  soon  free  from  human,  but  fiendish 
hands  that  have  so  cruelly  treated  us.  No 
human  aid  can  reach  us.     We   are   here   alone, 


FATHER    AND     DAUGHTER.  261 

weak  and  helpless,  surrounded  by  a  wall  thirty 
feet  high  on  three  sides,  and  on  the  fourth  one 
hundred  feet  to  the  dark  sea  that  beats  and 
moans  so  sadly.  There  is  no  escape  for  us  from 
this  horrible  place,  and  no  food;  so,  dear  father, 
we  must  resign  ourselves  to  our  fate,  and  pray 
God  to  take  us  soon  unto  Himself,  if  it  be  His 
will.  Oh,  dear  father!  if  you  had  your  health 
and  liberty  in  the  dear  old  Mead,  I  could  meet 
my  fate  almost  without  a  murmur.  But  when  I 
think  it  was  my  own  want  of  proper  judgment  in 
making  Lawrence  Hastings  my  husband,  whom, 
if  I  had  studied  well,  I  might  have  known  was  a 
viRain,  that  has  brought  all  this  misery  to  our 
home,  it  makes  me  doubly  wretched.  My 
anguish,  my  punishment  is  more  than  I  can 
bear ! "  and  the  thin  form  of  the  once  beautiful 
Norva  Hampton  quivered  with  grief 

"  There,  my  daughter,"  said  her  father,  "  do  not 
reproach  yourself.  We  were  both  deceived  in 
Lawrence  Hastings,  but  Walter  was  not,  for  he 
seemed  to  understand  the  man  perfectly.     As  you 


262  FATHER     AND     DAUGHTER. 

say,  Norva,  our  fate  is  sealed,  and  we  will  not 
spend  our  few  remaining  hours  in  reproaching 
those  who  have  doomed  us  to  such  a  death.  Ah, 
Norva !  I  hope  soon  we  will  be  with  your  gentle 
mother.  It  seems  to  me  that  she  is  very  near  me 
to-night,  and  when  I  greet  her,  how  can  I  tell  her 
of  your  brother  Walter,  and  of  my  great  injustice 
to  him  for  loving  that  beautiful,  heroic  creature. 
Amy  Le  Clare?" 

He  was  going  to  say  more,  but  Norva  suddenly 
raised  one  hand  and  said : 

"  Hark,  father !  I  heard  some  one  knocking  on 
the  entrance  gate." 

He  raised  his  head  and  listened.  He,  too, 
heard  a  knocking,  and  said : 

"  Some  poor,  belated  wanderers  who  wish  to 
seek  shelter  from  the  storm ;  but  we  cannot  admit 
them." 

"  But,"  said  Norva,  "  can  we  not  let  them  know 
we  are  prisoners  here,  and  get  them  to  send  us 
aid?" 

^*True,"  said  he;  "but  those  chains  bind  me 


FATHER     AND     DAUGHTER.  263 

here,  and  I  am  too  weak  to  raise  my  voice  above 
the  storm." 

"  Then  I  will  try  to  make  myself  heard,"  said 
Norva,  as  she  arose  from  her  father's  knee.  She 
took  one  step  towards  the  door  but  fell  senseless. 

The  faint  light  of  the  candle  shone  dimly  from 
the  tower  chamber,  and  the  knocking  became 
louder,  until  at  last  a  portion  of  the  high,  massive 
wall  gave  way,  but  the  inmates  of  the  lonely 
tower  chamber  were  unconscious  of  what  was 
going  on  without  in  that  dark  and  stormy  night. 
When  the  early  September  sun  arose  over  the 
lonely  sea-girt  prison,  father  and  daughter  lay 
unconscious  that  they  were  in  a  quiet  little  inn 
and  surrounded  by  friends. 

After  a  time  each  awoke  and  at  a  glance  knew 
they  were  not  at  Castle  Rook.  Mr.  Hampton 
was  the  first  to  make  the  discovery,  and  in  a  low 
voice  whispered : 

"Where  am  I?"  and  a  gentle  voice  replied: 

"With  friends.  Here,  drink  this!"  and  Charlie 
Field  held  a  glass  of  wine  to  the  old  man's  lips. 
He  swallowed  it,  and  then  said : 


2G4  FATHER     AND     DAUGHTER. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  Whose  friendly  voice  is  it  I 
hear  ?  "  and  his  face  lighted  up  with  something  of 
the  old  grand  look  that  it  used  to  wear  as  he 
stood  on  the  banks  of  the  river  among  his  well- 
remembered  mountains. 

"  Not  now,"  said  Charlie,  "  but  wait  until  you 
have  partaken  of  some  food.  Then  I  will  tell 
you  all." 

Just  then  there  was  a  low  knock  at  the  door. 
Charlie  went  and  opened  it.  It  was  a  waiter  with 
some  breakfast  for  Mr.  Hampton. 

^'  There,  sir,  is  a  cup  of  coffee  fit  for  his  Majesty. 
Those  chops  are  browned  to  a  turn,  and  those 
rolls  are  delicious.  When  these  are  despatched  I 
will  answer  any  questions  you  may  put  to  me," 
said  Charlie,  in  a  cheerful  voice. 

Mr.  Hampton  followed  the  directions  of  his 
kind  nurse,  often  during  the  repast  looking  at 
Charlie  with  an  inquiring  and  grateful  look  on 
his  noble  but  careworn  face.  After  he  had 
finished  his  welcome  meal  he  turned  to  Charlie 
and  said ; 


FATHER     AND     DAUGHTER.  2G5 

"Charlie  Field,  in  the  name  of  heaven,  how 
came  jou  here?  Where  am  I?  and  where  is  my 
poor  daughter?"  At  the  mention  of  Norva  his 
soul  seemed  to  go  out  to  the  joung  man  who  bent 
so  tenderly  over  him. 

Charlie's  face  assumed  a  bright  look  as  he  said : 

'*  I  will  answer  your  questions  now.  You  are 
in  the  town  of  Penzance,  surrounded  with  friends, 
and  it  is  as  well  with  your  daughter  as  could 
be  expected  under  the  circumstances.  Don't 
become  excited  when  I  tell  you  that  your  son 
Walter  is  with  his  sister  at  this  moment  adminis- 
tering to  her  wants.  We  are  in  hopes  that,  in  a 
few  days,  you  and  your  daughter  will  be  able  to  go 
to  Manchester,  and,  shortly  after,  embark  for  the 
United  States." 

Charlie  Field  then  told  him  of  the  elder  Hast- 
ings' death  at  Glen  Park.  Mr.  Hampton  put  his 
thin,  trembling  hands  over  his  face,  and  remained 
in  deep  thought  for  a  long  time ;  then  he  called 
Charlie,  and  said : 

"  Please  send  my  son  to  me ;  that  is,  if  he  can 


266  FATHER     AND     DAUGHTER. 

SO  far  forgive  me,  for  banishing  liim  from  home 
and  taking  a  viper  to  my  bosom  in  his  place, 
finally  to  sting  me." 

We  will  pass  over  the  meeting  of  father  and 
son,  and  hasten  to  the  time  when  all  were  able  to 
leave  Penzance,  although  neither  of  them  were 
very  strong  as  yet;  but  the  presence  of  Walter, 
Cliff  Wilbern  and  Charlie  Field  helped  to  cheer 
them,  and  in  a  measure  were  instrumental  in  their 
rapid  recovery.  Mr.  Hampton  felt  that  soon  he 
would  tread  the  shores  of  his  adopted  country. 
Norva  thought  lovingly  of  her  mountain  home  far 
away. 

Walter  had  written  to  Amy  of  his  success  in 
finding  his  father  and  sister,  telling  her  she  might 
expect  them  any  day. 

Just  as  the  carriage  drew  up  at  the  gates  of 
Glen  Park,  Norva  turned  to  her  brother,  and  said : 
**  I  am  very  anxious  to  see  your  wife,  that  precious 
boy  of  yours,  and  dear  old  Mammy  Silvia,"  and 
the  glad  tears  rolled  down  the  speaker's  pale,  thin 
cheeks. 


FATHER     AND     DAUGHTER.  2G7 

"  There  they  are,  sister." 

Norva  looked  in  the  direction  her  brother 
pointed,  and  a  burst  of  admiration  escaped  her  as 
she  beheld  the  beautiful  vision.  Amy  in  her 
walking-suit,  Mammy  Silvia's  dear  old  face,  with 
great  gold  hoop  earrings  in  her  ears,  and  little 
Alfred  in  her  loving  arms,  made  a  very  pretty 
picture. 

"God  bless  my  loved  ones,"  said  Walter, 
tenderly ;  "I  have  them  all  again." 


268  HOMEWARD     BOUND. 


CHAPTER    XXXIL 

HOMEWARD     BOUND. 

V  NOBLE  vessel  rides  the  waves  of  the  broad 
Atlantic;  she  is  in  mid-ocean,  bound  for 
New  York.  There  is  a  little  party  seated  together 
on  her  upper  deck,  watching  the  Indian  summer 
sun  as  it  seems  to  sink  down  into  the  bosom  of  the 
deep.  This  party  consists  of  ten  persons — namely, 
Mr.  Hampton,  who  is  fast  regaining  his  health, 
and  with  little  Alfred  seated  on  his  knee.  Lady 
Hester  Glenmore  Spotswood,  Charlie  Field,  Cliff 
Wilbern ;  there  is  also  Walter  Hampton,  with  hig 
wdfe  at  his  right,  and  his  pale  sister  at  his  left, 
and  old  Mammy  Silvia  at  a  little  distance. 

"  Now,  I  w^onder,"  she  thought,  "  if  there  was 
eber  an'  ole  nigger  as  eber  had  three  such  chil'en 
as  dem :  Miss  Norva,  wid  her  pale,  dark  beauty, 
an'  eyes  like  stars  on  a  soft  summer's  night,  an* 
Miss  Amy,  wid  her  hair  like  gold  an'  her  cheeks 


HOMEWARD     BOUND.  269 

like  apple  blossoms,  an'  young  Mars'er  Walter — 
why,  he  beats  de  King  of  England  all  hollow.  I 
saw  de  ole  gemman  wid  deas  eyes  of  mine,  while 
we  was  in  London,  an'  he  can't  begin  to  hold  a 
candle  to  de  chile  dis  ole  nigger  took  in  her  arms 
an'  pat  de  first  clothes  on.  And  now  he,  too,  has 
got  a  baby-boy — -just  like  he  was  at  his  age." 

"  Look,  brother,"  said  Norva,  straining  her  eyes 
far  ahead  ;  "  is  that  not  a  sail  ?" 

"  I  think  it  is,"  said  he,  looking  in  the  direction 
of  her  gaze. 

The  soft  breeze  fanned  Norva's  cheeks,  and  a 
fliint  dash  of  color  stole  into  her  pale  face  as  she 
took  the  glass  from  her  brother's  hand,  and 
watched  what  appeared  to  be  a  mere  speck  on  the 
horizon.  She  watched  it  with  a  strange  eagerness, 
until  twilight  settled  over  the  deep.  After  a  time, 
a  faint  light  tinged  the  starry  heavens,  which 
grew  brighter  and  brighter  each  moment.  ' 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  that  bright  light?" 
asked  Mr.  Hampton. 

"  I  think  it  is  a  burning  vessel,"  Cliif  Wilborn 


270  HOMEWARD     BOUND. 

replied,  with  a  pale,  troubled  look,  "and,  if  so, 
God  help  those  on  board." 

By  this  time,  the  two  vessels  were  so  near  each 
other  that  the  cries  for  help  could  be  plainly 
heard,  as  many  persons  leaped  into  the  sea,  where 
some  found  a  watery  grave.  A  large  number 
were  saved  by  the  crew  of  the  vessel  on  which  our 
friends  were  passengers. 

After  breakfast,  next  morning,  the  stewardess 
came  to  Lady  Hester,  who  was  on  deck,  and  asked 
if  she  and  the  other  two  ladies  would  not  prepare 
the  body  of  a  beautiful  girl  for  burial,  as  they 
were  the  only  ladies  on  board. 

"  Certainly,"  said  Lady  Hester,  sadly :  "  we  will 
be  in  the  cabin  soon." 

Going  up  to  her  granddaughter  and  Norva,  who 
were  walking  arm-in-arm,  she  made  known  what 
was  wanted  of  them  below.  Walter  saw  them  to 
the  cabin,  where  they  were  met  by  the  stewardess, 
who  conducted  them  at  once  to  the  state-room, 
where  the  cold,  still  form  lay. 

"When  did  the  young  lady  die?"  said  Lady 


HOMEWARD     BOUND.  271 

Hester,  turning  down  the  white  sheet  and  exposing 
the  beautiful  face  to  view. 

"  She  was  dead  when  taken  from  the  water," 
replied  the  stewardess. 

Norva  by  this  time  had  entered  the  room,  and 
had  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  cold,  marble  face. 
She  threw  her  hands  up,  exclaiming,  "  Oh, 
heavens!  it  is  Octavia  Stanley;"  then  turning 
away,  she  fell  fainting  to  the  floor. 

Walter,  who  w^as  still  lingering  in  the  cabin, 
saw  his  sister  fall.  He  hastened  at  once  to  her 
side,  and  gently  lifted  her  in  his  strong  arms  and 
bore  her  to  her  state-room  ;  then  calling  Amy,  he 
said,  "Darling,  what  is  the  matter  with  Norva?" 

Amy  looked  very  sad,  as  she  said,  "  Dear 
Walter,  have  you  no  idea  who  lies  dead  in  the 
next  room?" 

"  No,"  said  he,  as  he  pressed  his  sister's  cold 
hands  between  his  warm  palms. 

"Then,"  said  Amy,  "I  will  tell  you:  it  is 
Octavia  Stanley;  and  you  may  know  how  her 
presence,  either  living  or  dead,  would  affect  dear 


272  HOMEWARD     BOUND. 

Norva,"  said  Walter's  wife,  sadly,  as   she  kissed 
the  fainting  girl's  lips. 

"Yes/'  said  Walter,  turning  pale,  "I  under- 
stand ;  but  where  is  her  partner  in  crime  ? — where 
is  Lawrence  Hastiniis?" 

In  a  short  time  his  questions  would  be  answered. 
Norva  soon  recovered  from  her  fainting  fit.  Her 
large  black  eyes  were  strange  and  wild,  as  she 
said,  "  Dear  brother,  am  I  dreaming,  or  did  I 
really  see  Octavia  lying  cold  and  still  in  death?" 
and  a  shiver  ran  through  her  delicate  frame. 

"It  is  reality,  my  darling  sister;  the  vengeance 
of  God  has  overtaken  her." 

Lady  Hester  just  then  tapped  at  the  door,  and 
said  all  was  done  that  was  necessary. 

At  ten  o'clock,  when  the  sun  shone  brightly, 
and  a  gentle  gale  was  blowing  from  the  east,  all 
the  passengers  assembled  to  witness  one  of  the  most 
sad  and  solemn  of  all  burials — a  burial  at  sea. 
Our  party  of  friends  were  standing  together  near 
the  pale  form  that  soon  was  to  find  a  last  resting- 
place  beneath  the  waves.   The  captain  had  ojoened 


HOMEWARD     BOUND.  278 

his  book  to  read  the  solemn  burial  rites,  when  a 
tall,  ghastly  figure  stepped  up,  and  knelt  at  the 
side  of  the  dead  s^irl.  For  a  moment  he  remained 
thus,  then  arose,  and  turned  his  face  away.  The 
captain  went  on  with  the  services,  and  soon  all 
that  was  left  of  the  earth  earthly  of  the  beautiful 
and  erring  Octavia  Stanley  was  consigned  to  the 
great  sea  of  waters. 

Again  the  tall  form  that  had  kept  his  back  to 
our  party  of  friends,  turned  and  faced  them. 
There  was  a  look  of  demoniac  triumph  in  the  face, 
as  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  Norva,  and  said : 

^^And  so,  Mrs.  Hastings,  we  meet  again.  It 
seems  that  you  have  outwitted  me  at  last.  All  of 
you  are  on  your  way  to  Hampton  Mead." 

Norva  was  as  pale  as  death,  and  could  make  no 
reply,  and  as  all  the  rest  seemed  too  much  aston- 
ished to  speak,  old  Silvia  drew  near  and  said : 

"Yes,    Mr.    Hastings,    through    me    they    has 

outgeneraled  you.      I  always  told  Miss  Norva  I 

would   get   eben  wid  de  debil,  an'  so  I  has.     It 

was  me  as  led  Mars'er  Walter  where  to  find  my 
17 


274  HOMEWARD     BOUND. 

beautiful  young  mist'ess ;  de  night  on  wliicli  you 
made  at  me  an'  I  dragged  you  to  the  earth  with 
me,  I  learned  Miss  Norva  was  at  Castle  Rook;  but 
'  I  was  old  an'  thought  I  would  not  let  you  get  tins 
knowledge  from  me.  So,  when  Mars'er  Walter  an' 
my  young  Miss  Amy  came  back  to  'Merica,  I  gib 
my  young  mars'er  the  info'mation,  an'  so,  Mr. 
Hastings,  we  is  all  here,  on  our  way  back  to  de 
Mead." 

At  this  moment  Mr.  Hampton  stepped  forth,  as 
if  to  speak  to  the  man  that  had  robbed  him  and 
his  daughter  of  liberty  so  long.  Walter  stood 
somewhat  in  the  rear,  with  his  wife  and  child  near 
him.  He  was  pale  with  excitement  and  agitation 
at  beholding  his  old  enemy  again,  but,  remember- 
ing the  occasion  that  had  assembled  them  on 
deck,  he  restrained  himself,  and  waited  for  his 
father  to  speak.  Hastings  cast  his  eyes  over  the 
deck;  near  him  he  discovered  a  huge  piece  of  iron; 
he  stooped  and  picked  it  ujd,  w^hile  a  grim  smile 
overspread  his  face;  then  looking  earnestly  in 
Amy  Hampton's  face,  while  a  change  came  over 


HOMEWARD     BOUND.  275 

his  look — a  change  of  feeling,  a  softened,  tender 
expression  that  no  one  had  ever  seen  before,  he 
said : 

"  Farewell,  sweet,  beautiful  sister,  you  will 
enjoy  the  great  wealth  of  the  Hamptons,  while  I, 
your  brother,  will  sleep  in  mid-ocean  with  the  only 
woman  I  ever  loved,"  and  as  he  spoke  he  leaped 
into  the  sea. 

The  passengers  were  horror-stricken  at  the 
sight.  Norva,  who  had  been  so  deeply  wronged, 
and  who  had  suffered  so  much  at  this  man's 
hands,  fainted  in  her  father's  arms,  while  Amy 
turned  to  Lady  Hester,  as  if  asking  an  explana- 
tion of  this  man's  words,  " My  beautiful  sister;" 
what  did  it  mean  ?  Lady  Hester  understood  the 
appealing  look,  and  said  : 

"Yes,  dearest  Amy,  that  poor  demented  creature 
was  right :  you  are  his  half-sister ;  his  father 
married  your  young  mother  under  the  name  of 
Le  Clare.  Here  is  the  marriage  certificate,"  and 
the  speaker  handed  Walter  the  folded  paper  the 
elder  Hastings  had  given  her  at  Glen  Park.    Amy 


276  HOMEWARD     BOUND. 

sank  on  her  knees,  while  her  face  was  bowed,  as 
she  prayed. 

Mr.  Hampton  and  Charlie  Field  went  below 
with  the  still  fainting  form  of  Norva.  The  captain 
gave  orders  to  have  boats  lowered  to  recover  the 
daring  young  man  that  had  S|)rang  overboard,  as 
soon  as  he  should  rise  to  the  surface,  but  they  did 
not  find  him.  He  and  his  only  love  still  sleep 
beneath  the  ocean  waves,  until  they  shall  be 
called  at  the  great  day  to  answer  for  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body. 


THE     SHADOW     IS     GONE.  277 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

THE     SHADOW     IS     GONE. 

TWO  years  have  passed  away  since  Norva 
Hastings  saw  her  husband  sink  beneath  the 
ocean  waves  to  rise  no  more.  Again  it  is  Septem- 
ber, and  at  dear  old  Hampton  Mead.  Again  she 
is  to  be  a  bride :  this  time  all  the  members  of  her 
family  are  delighted  with  her  choice.  No  doubts  fill 
her  brother's  mind  as  he  sees  her  lean  on  the  arm 
of  the  noble  Cliff  Wilbern.  Well  might  father  and 
son  trust  Norva's  happiness  to  this  excellent  and 
eloquent  divine.  The  soft  autumn  breezes  steal 
over  mountains,  rivers  and  valley,  as  those  two  are 
united  in  a  marriage  of  hearts  as  well  as  hands. 
No  influence  save  that  of  pure  love  implanted  in 
each  heart  binds  them  on  this  happy  occasion. 
And  old  Mammy  Silvia,  who  is  looking  on,  turns 
to  Isom — her  husband — and  says  : 

"  Tings  is  as  dey  should  be,  an'  I  is  glad  I  has 


278  THE     SHADOW     IS     GONE. 

lived  to  see  de  day  when  Miss  Norva  is  wedded 
wid  her  equal.  I  always  did  say  it  should  have 
been ;  an'  so  it  should,  an'  so  it  is." 

"  Yes,  Silvia,  things  is  as  they  should  be,"  said 
Wilkes  McCord,  as  he  was  passing  by  and  over- 
heard old  Silvia's  remark  to  her  husband;  "they 
make  a  splendid-looking  couple." 

In  a  few  days  the  bride  and  groom  left  the 
Mead  for  Wilmington,  where  Mr.  Wilbern  had 
charge  of  a  church.  Mr.  Hampton  had  been  loth 
to  give  his  daughter  up.  But  she  who  had  first 
won  Walter's  heart  as  Amy  Le  Clare,  threw  her 
soft,  snowy  arms  around  his  neck,  and  said : 

"Dear  father,  I  know  your  loss  is  great,  but  let 
me  be  a  daughter  to  you  during  Norva's  absence." 

The  proud,  noble  face  of  Mr.  Hampton  looked 
down  on  the  beautiful  \voman,  and  taking  her 
delicate  hands  in  his,  he  said : 

"  God  bless  you.  Amy,  my  daughter,  mother  of 
Walter's  beautiful  boy,  in  whose  veins  flows  the 
blood  of  the  Cherokees.  I  love  and  bless  you," 
and  the  white  head  bent  and  his  lips  pressed  the 
fair  brow  of  Walter's  little  savage  wife. 


THE     SHADOW     IS     GONE.  279 

A  few  years  later  Ladj  Hester  went  to  rest 
with  her  ancestors,  and  Amy  became  the  lady  of 
Glen  Park  and  its  magnificent  surroundings,  but 
still  she  could  not  leave  Hampton  Mead. 

Almost  before  she  or  Walter  was  aware  of  it, 
little  Alfred  was  of  age,  and  went  over  to  Glen 
Park,  where  he  was  born,  to  look  after  the 
property.  At  that  time  he  was  betrothed  to  his 
fair  cousin  Caroline  Wilbern.  Soon  he  returned 
to  claim  his  bride.  On  his  father  s  death  Walter 
became  owner  of  Hampton  Mead. 

A  few  years  ago,  we  spent  several  weeks  with 
him  and  Amv,  and  fished  in  the  lake  where 
Norva  had  sat  under  the  shadow  of  the  statue  of 
Diana,  when  the  irreat  shadow  of  her  first  marriasre 
began  to  fall  so  thickly  around  her.  We  drank 
from  the  clear  crystal  spring  where  Walter  first 
met  his  love.  Although  nearly  fifty  years  ha^^e 
passed  since  then,  she  is  still  the  idol  of  his  heart. 
Mrs.  Walter  Hampton  presented  us  with  a  piece 
of  handiwork  done  by  her  grandmother,  Lady 
Hester,  the  half-breed.    A  shadow  no  longer  hangs 


280  THE     SHADOW     IS     GONE. 

over  Hampton  Mead.  It  continues  to  be  one  of  the 
loveliest  spots  on  earth. 

When  we  were  at  the  Mead  we  had  many  a 
long  talk  with  old  Silvia.  She  said  she  was  over 
one  hundred  years  old,  and  still  loves  to  tell  how 
she  got  "  eben  wid  de  debil/'  years  ago. 

"Dat,  honey,  was  before  my  old  man  Isom  died; 
when  I  was  a  young  an'  handsome  woman,  afore 
my  har  got  white  as  a  sheep,  an'  my  ole  eyes 
got  so  dim.  But  we  will  all  get  ole,  honey  chile, 
if  we  \ive  long  enough,"  said  she,  sadly. 

Now  we  will  say  good-bye  to  Hampton  Mead,  as 
it  looked  to  us  as  we  drove  away  from  its  hos- 
pitable doors :  with  the  early  summer  sun  kissing 
the  blue  waters  of  the  lake,  and  gilding  the  grand 
and  lofty  mountain  peaks  with  its  brilliant  rays ; 
Walter,  tall  and  commanding,  with  hair  white  as 
snow,  standing  on  the  door-steps  with  Amy  by  his 
side,  each  waving  us  a  fond  adieu. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilbern  are  there  also,  and  no 
shadow  rests  on  Norva's  face.  A  tall,  lovely 
brunette    stands    near    her;    this   is    her   grand- 


THE     SHADOW     IS     GONE.  281 

daughter,  also  Walter's  and  Amy's.  She  is 
Alfred's  daughter,  and  they  call  her  Lady  Hester. 
Alfred  and  his  wife  had  gone  to  Glen  Park,  and 
we  had  not  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them ;  but  we 
hope  when  we  go  to  Hampton  Mead  again  to  find 
them  all  gathered  beneath  its  old  and  ample  roof. 


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Miss  Leslie's  New  Cookery  Book Cloth,      1  75 

Mrs.  Hale's  New  Cook  Book, '. Cloth, 

Petersons'  New  Cook  Book, Lh-th, 

Widdifield's  New  Cook  Book, Cloth, 

Mrs.  Goodfellow's  Cockery  as  it  Should  Be, Ciolh, 

The  National  Cook  Book.     By  a  Practical  Housewife, Cloth, 

The  Young  AVife's  Cook  Book Cloth, 

Miss  Leslie's  New  Receipts  for  Cooking, , Cloth, 

Mrs.  Hale's  Receipts  for  the  Million, Cloth, 

The  Family  Save-All.    By  author  of  *' National  Cook  Book,"  Cloth, 
f  rancatelii's   Modern  Cook.     With   the    most  approved    methods    of 
French,  English,  German,  and   Italian  Cookery.     With  Sixty-two 
Illustrations.     One  volume  of  600  pages,  bound  in  morocco  cloth,  5  00 

JAMES  A.  MAITLAND'S  WORKS. 

Complete  in  seven  large  dnndecimo   volumes,  bound  in  cloth,  gilt  hack,  price  $1.75 
each  ;  or  $12.25  a  set,  ench  set  is  jmt  np  in  a  neat  box. 

The  Watchman, SI  75    Diary  of  an  Old  Doctor, $1   75 

The  Wanderer, 1  75    Sartaroe, 1   75 

The  Lawyer's  Story, 1   75    The  Three  Cousins 1   75 

The  Old  Patroon  ;   or  the  Great  Van  Broek  Property, 1   75 

Above  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

T.  ADOLPHUS  TROLLOPE'S    WORKS. 

Complete  in  sevn  large    duodecimo  volumes,  bound  in  cloth,  gilt  back,  price  $1.75 
each:  or  $12.25  a  set,  each  set  is  put  up  in  a  neat  box. 

iThe  Sealed  Packet, $1  7o    Dream  Numbers, $1  75 

Garstang  Grange, 1   75    Beppo,  the  Conscript, 1   75 

Leonora  Casaloni,...   1  75  ]  Gemma 1  75  |  Marietta, 1  7* 

Above  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  jjaper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

EREDRIKA  BREUER'3  WORKS. 

Cfrmplete  in  six  large  duodecimo  volum-s,  bound  in  cloth,  gilt  bark,  price  $1.75  each; 
or  $10.50  a  szt,  each  set  is  put  up  in  a  neat  box. 

Father  and  Daughter, $1   75    The  Neighbors, SI   75 


The  Four  Sisters, 1  75 


TheHome, 1   75 


Above  are  e;ich  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  pnper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 
Life  in  the  Old  World.     In  two  volumes,  cloth,  price, 3  50 


Above  Books  will  be  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  Retail  Prioe, 
\y  T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS.    3 


MISS  ELIZA  A.  DUPUY'S   WORKS. 

Compute  infourtfen  large  dufulex-imo  volumes,  bound  in  morocco  chili,  gill  back,  price 
S1.75  fw.li;  or  $24.50  a  sef,  each  set  is  put  np  in  a  neal  box. 

Why  Did  He  Marry  Her? $1   75 


A  New  Way  to  Win  a  Fortune  $1  75 

The  Discarded  Wife, I  75 

The  Clandestine  Marriage, 1   75 

The  Hidlen  Sin, 1   75 

The  Dethroned  Heiress, 1   75 

The  Gipsy's  Warning, 1  75 

Ai'  For  Love, 1   75 


Who  Shall  be  Victor? 1  75 

The  Mysterious  Guest, 1   75 

Was  He  Guilty? 1  75 

The  Cancelled  Will 1  75 

The  Planter's  Daughter, 1  75 

Michael  Rudolj)h, 1  U 


Above  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

EMERSON  BENNETT'S  WORKS. 

Complete  in  seven   larg"    duodecimo  volumes,  bound  in  clu'h,  gilt  back,  prict  $1.76 
each ;  or  $12.25  a  set,  each  $et  is  put  up  in  a  neat  box. 

The  Border  Rover, $1  75  I  Bride  of  the  Wilderness, $1  75 

Clara  Moreland 1  75  |  Ellen  Nor'nury I   75 

The  Orphan's  Trials, I   75  i  Kate  Clarerid(,n, .,    1   75 

Viola;  or  Adventures  in  the  Far  South-West, 1   75 

Above  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  i.s  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

The  Heiress  of  Bellefonte, 75  |  The  Pioneer's  Daughter, 75 

D0ESTICK3'  WORKS. 

Complete  in  four  Inrge  duodecimo  volumes,   bound   in   clofh,  gill  back,  price  $1.7S 
each  ;  or  $7.00  a  sec,  each  set  is  ptit  up  in  a  neat  box. 

Do»sticks'  Letters Z\    75 

Plu-Ri-Bus-Tah. 1.   75 


The  Elephant  Club, $1    75 

Witches  of  Xew  York, 1    75 


Above  are  each  in  cloth,  or  ench  one  is  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

GREEN'S  WORKS  ON  GAMBLING. 

Complete   in  four  large  duodecimo    volumes,  bound    in  'lotli.  gil'   back,  price  $1.75 
each;  or  37.00  a  set,  each  set  is  put  up  in  a  neal  box. 

fiatnbling  Exposed $1  75  i  Reformed   Gambler $1   75 

The  Gambler's  Life, 1   75  |  Secret  Band  of  Brother.* 1  75 

Above  arc  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  ]>aper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

DOW'S  PATENT   SERMONS. 

Compute  in  four  large  duodecimo   volumes,  bound  in   cloth,   gilt  back,  price   $1.50 

each  ;  or  .?6.00  a  set,  each  set  is  put  up  iu  a  neat  box. 
Dow's     Patent     Sermons,    1st  Dow's      Patent     Sermons,    3d 


Series,  cloth, $1  50 

Dow's     Patent     Sermons,    2d 


Series,  cloth, SI  50 

Dow's     Patent    Sermons,    4th 

Series,  cloth 1   50  i      Series,  cloth 1   50 

Above  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  i.^  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.00  each. 

WILKIE  COLLINS'  BEST  WORKS. 

Basil;  or.  The  Crossed  Path..$l    50  |  The  Dead  Secret.     12mo $1  50 

Ab<jve  are  each  in  one  large  duodecimo  volume,  bound  in  eloth. 

The  Dead  Secret,  8vo 7.^  |  The  Queen's  Revenge,..-. 15 

Basil;  or,  the  Crossed  Path, 75  i  Miss  or  Mrs  ? 60 

Hide  and  Seek, 75  |  Ma.]  Monkton, 68 

After  Dark 75  '  Sights   a-Foot 60 

The  Stolen  Mask 25  j  The  Yellow  Mnsk....   25  |  Sister  Rose,„..  24 

The  above  books  are  each  issued  in  paper  cover,  in  octavo  form. 

FRANK  FORRESTER'S   SPORTING  BOOK. 

Frank  Forrester's  Sportin2  Scenes  and  Characters.     By  Henry  Wil- 
liam Herbert.     With  Illustrations  by  Darley.     Two  vols.,  cloth,.. .$4  01 


<  •  >  »  » 


^^  Above  Books  will  be  sent,  postage  paiil.  on  receipt  cf  Retail  Price, 
by  T.  B.  Peterson  &  Br&tLers,   Philadelphia,  Pa. 


4    T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS. 
WORKS  BY  THE  VERY  BEST    AUTHORS. 

The  f()(li)irAnfj   books  are   ta':h    issued     in    one   larye    duodecimo  volitmtf 

hound  in  cloth,  at  $1.76  each,  or  each  one  is  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

The  Initials.      A  Love  Story.      By  Biironess  Tautphoeus, $ 

Married  Beneath  Hiui.     By  author  of  "  Lost  Sir  Massingberd," 

Lost  Sir  Massingberd.    By  author  of  "  Married  Beneath  Him," 

The  ClyfTards  of  Clyffe,  by  author  of  '^  Lost  Sir  Massingberd," 

Margaret  Maitland.     By  Mrs.  Oliphant,  author  of  '' Zaidee," 

yainily  Pride.     By  author  of  "  Pique,"  ''  Family  Secrets."  etc 

Self-Sacrifice.     By  author  of  "Margaret  Maitland,"  etc 

The  Woman  in  Black.     A  Companion  to  the  "Woman  in  White,"  ... 

A  Woman's  Thoughts  about  Wouien.      By  Miss  Muloch, 

Flirtations  in  Fashionable  Life.     By  Catharine  Sinchiir, 

False  Pride;  or,  Two  Ways  to  Matrimony.     A  Charming  Book, 

Rose  Douglas.   A  Companion  to  ''  Family  Pride,"  and  "  Self  Sacrifice," 

Family  Secrets.     A  Companion  to  "Family  Pride,"  and  "Pique,"... 

The  lieiress  in  the  Family.     'By  Mrs.  Mackenzie  Daniel, 

Popery  Exposed.     An  Exposition  of  Popery  as  it  was  and  is, 

The  Heiress  of  Sweetwater.     A  Charming  Novel, 

Woman's  Wrong.     By  Mrs.  Eiloart,  author  of  "St.  Bede's," 

The  Autobiography  of  Edward  Wortley  Montagu, ... 

A  Lonely  Life.    By  the  author  of  "  Wise  as  a  Serpent,"  etc 

The  Macdermots  of  Ballycloran.     By  Anthony  Trollope, 

The  Forsaken  Daughter.     A  Companion  to  "Linda," 

Love  and  Liberty.     A  Revolutionary  Story.     By  Alexander  Dumas, 

The  Morrisons.     By  Mrs.  Margaret  Hosmer, 

My  Son's  Wife.     By  author  of  "  Caste,"  "  Mr.  Arle,"  etc 

The  Rich  Husband.     By  author  of  "  George  Geith," 

Harem  Life  in  Egypt  and  Constantinople.     By  Emmeline  Lott, 

The  Rector's  Wife;  or,  the  Valley  of  a  Hundred  Fires, 

Woodburn  Grange.     A  Novel.     By  William  Howitt, 

Country  Quarters.     By  the  Countess  of  Blessingtnn, 

'^utof  the  Depths.     The  Story  of  a  "Woman's  Life," 

/he  Devoted  Bride.     A  Story  of  the  Heart.     By  St.  George  Tucker, 

Tlie  Coquette:  or,  the  Life  and  Letters  of  Eliza  AVharton, 

The  Pride  of  Life.     A  Story  of  the  Heart.     By  Lady  Jane  Scott,.... 

The  Lost  Beauty.     By  a  Noted  Lady  of  the  Spanish  Court 

My  Hero.     By  Mrs.  Forrester.     A  Charming  Love  Story, 

The  Quaker  Soldier.  A  Revolutionary  Romance.  By  Judge  Jones,.... 

The  Man  of  the  W(uld.     An  Autobiography.     By  William  North,... 

The  Queen's  Favorite  ;  or.  The  Price  of  a  Crown.     A  Love  Story,... 

Self  Love;   or.  The  Afternoon  of  Single  and  Married  Life, 

Memoirs  of  Vidocq,  the  French  Detective.     His  Life  and  Adventures, 

Camors.    "The  Man  of  the  Second  Empire."     Bv  Octave  Feuillet,.. 

The  Belle  of  Washington.  With  her  Portrait.  By  .Mrs.  N.  P.  Lasselle, 

Cora  Belmont;  or.  The  Sincere  Lover.     A  True  Story  of  the  Hi'art,. 

The  Lover's  Trials;  or  Days  befo'-e  1776.  By  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Denison, 

High  Life  in  Washington.     A  Life  Picture.     By  Mrs.  N.  P.  Lasselle, 

The  Beautiful  Widow;  or,  Lodore.     By  Mrs.  Percy  B.  Shelley, 

Love  and  Money.     By  J.  B.  Jones,  author  of  the  "  Rival  Belles,"... 

Tlie  Matchmaker.    A  Story  of  High  Life.    By  Beatrice  Reynolds,.. 

The  Brother's  Secret ;  or,  the  Count  De  Mara.     By  Willinm  (jodwin, 

liife,  Speeches  and  Martyrdom  of  Abraham  Lincoln.     Illustrated,... 

Rome  and  the  Papacy.    A  History  of  the  Men,  Manners  and  Tempo- 
ral Government  of  Rome  in  the  Nineteenth  Century, 1  75 

Above  books  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each« 


75 

75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
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75 
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75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
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75 
75 
75 
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7S 
75 
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76 
75 
75 


l^°  Above  Books  will  be  sent, postage  paid,  on  Receipt  of  Retail  Price, 
by  T.  B.   Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


T.  E.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS.    5 


WORKS  BY  THE  VERY  BEST  AUTHORS. 

77te  followiny  books  are    each    i^naed    in    one    larye   duodecimo   vohimef 
bound  in  cloth,  at  $1.75  each,  or  each  one  is  in  paper  cover  at  $1.50  each. 

The  Count  of  Monte-Cristo.  By  Alexander  Duma.*.  Illustrated, ...$1  75 
The  Countess  of  Monte-Cristo.     Paper  cover,  price  $1.00  ;  or  cloth,..  1  75 

Camille;   or,  the  Fate  of  a  Coquette.     By  Alexiuider  Duniiis, 1  75 

The  Lust  Love.  By  Mrs.  Oliphant.  author  of  *'  Margaret  Maitland,"  1  75 
The  Roman  Traitor.     By  Henry  William  He^rbert.    A  Roman  Story,  1  75 

The  Bohemians  of  London.     By  Edward  M.  AVhitty, 1  75 

The  Rival  Belles;  or,  Life  in  Washington.     By  J.  B.  Jones, 1  75 

Love  and  Duty.  By  Mrs.  Hubback,  author  of  "  May  and  December,"  1  7S 
Wild  Sports  and  Adventures  in  Africa.  By  Major  W.  C.  Harris,  1  75 
Courtship  and  Matrimony.     By  Robert  Morris.     With  a  Portrait,...   1  75 

The  Jealous  Husband.     By  Annette  Marie  Maillard, 1   75 

The  Refugee.      By  Herman  Melville,  author  of  "  Omoo,"  ''  Typee,"  1  75 

The  Life,  Writings,  and  Lectures  of  the  late  "  Fanny  Fern," 1  75 

The  Life  and  Lectures  of  Lola  Montez,  with  her  portrait, 1  75 

Wild  Southern  Scenes.     By  author  of  "Wild  Western  .Scenes," 1  75 

Currer  Lyle;  or,  the  Autobiography  of  an  Actress.  By  Louise  Reeder.  1   75 

The  Cabin  and  Parlor.     By  J.  Thornton  Randolph.     Illustrated, 1  75 

The  Little  Beauty.     A  Love  Story.     By  Mrs.  Grey 1  75 

Lizzie  Glenn  ;   or,  the  Trials  of  a  Seamstress.     By  T.  S.  Arthur, 1  75 

Lady  Maud  ;  or,  the  Wonder  of  King-^wood  Chase.    By  Pierce  Egan,  1  75 

Wilfred  Montressor  ;   or,  High  Life  in  Kew  York.     Illustrated, 1  75 

The  Old  Stone  Mansion.  By  C.  J.  Peterson,  author  *'  Kate  Aylesford,"  1  75 
Kate  Aylesford.  By  Chas.  J.  Peterson,  author  "  Old  Stone  Mansion,".  1  75 

Lorrimer  Littlegood,  by  author  "  Harry  Coverdale's  Courtship," 1  75 

The  Earl's  Secret.     A  Love  Story.     By  Miss  Pardoe, 1  75 

Tiie  Adopted  Heir.  By  Miss  Pardoe,  author  of  "The  Earl's  Secret,"  1  75 
Coal,  Coal  Oil,  and  all  other  Minerals  in  the  Earth.     By  Eli  Bowen,  1  75 

Secession,  Coercion,  and  Civil  War.     By  J.  B.  Jones, 1   75 

Above  books  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  papercover,  at  $1.50  each. 

The  Dead  Secret.    By  Wilkie  Collins,  author  "  The  Crossed  Path,"...   1  50 

The  Crossed  Path;  or  Basil.     By  Wilkie  Collins, 1  50 

Indiana.     A  Love  Story.     By  George  Sand,  author  of  "  Consuelo,"  1  50 

Jealousy  ;  or,  Teverino.   By  George  Sand,  author  of  "  Consuelo,"  etc.  1  50 

Six  Nights  with  the  Washingtonians,  Illustrated.     By  T.  S.  Arthur,  3  50 

BOOKS  FOR  PRIVATE  STUDY  AND  SCHOOLS. 

The  Lawrence  Speaker.  A  Selection  of  Literary  Gems  in  Poetry  and 
Prose,  designed  for  the  use  of  Colleges,  Schools.  Seminaries,  Literary 
Societies.    By  Philip  Lawrence,  Professor  of  Elocution.    6(10  pages..$2  CO 

Comstock's  Elocution  aod  Model  Speaker.  Intended  for  the  use  of 
School?.,  Colleges,  and  for  private  Study,  for  the  Promotion  of 
Health,  Cure  of  Stammering,  and  Defective  Articulation.  By  An- 
drew Comstock  and  Philip  Lawrence.     With  236  Illustration.- 2  00 

Ihe  French,  German,  Spanish.  Latin  and  Italian  Languages  Without 

I  a  Master.  Whereby  any  one  of  these  Languages  can  be  learned 
without  a  Teacher.     By  A.  H.  Monteith.     One  volume,  cloth 2  00 

Com.'^topk's  Colored  Chart.  Being  a  perfect  Alphabet  of  the  Eng- 
lish Language,  Graphic  and  Typic,  with  exercises  in  Pitch,  Force 
and  Gesture,  and  Sixty-Eight  colored  figures,  representing  the  va- 
rious postures  and  different  attitudes  to  be  used  in  declamation. 
On  a  large  Roller.     Every  School  should  have  a  copy  of  it 5  00 

Llebig's  Complete  W'orks  on  Chemistry.     By  Baron  Justus  Liebig...  2  00 


J^  Above  Btwks  will  be  sent,  postage  paid,  on  Receipt  of  Retail  Frico 
by  T.  B.  Peterson  &  Broth£rs,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


6  T.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS. 


WORKS  BY  THE  VERY  BEST  AUTHORS. 

TTie  folloicing    books  are  each  issued  in   one   large   duodecimo   volume, 
hound  in  cloth,  at  $1.75  each,  or  each  one  is  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

Rose  Foster.     By  George  W.  M.  Reynolds,  Esq., $1  75 

The  Conscript  J  or,  the  Days  of  Napoleon  1st.  By  Alex.  Dumas,....  1  75 
Cousin  Harry.  By  Mrs.  Grey,  author  of  "  The  Gambler's  Wife,"  etc.  1  75 
•Saratoga.     An  Indian  Tale  of  Frontier  Life.   A  true  Story  of  1787,..  1  75 

Married  at  Last.     A  Love  Story.     By  Annie  Thomas, 1   75 

Shoulder  Straps.  By  Henry  Morford,  author  of  **  Days  of  Shoddy,"  1  75 
Days  of  Shoddy.     By  Henry  Morford,  author  of  "  Shoulder  Straps,"  1  75 

The  Coward.     By  Henry  ^lorford,  author  of  **  Shoulder  Straps," 1  75 

The  Cavalier.  By  G.  P.  R.James,  author  of  "Lord  Montagu's  Page,"  1  75 
Lord  Montagu's  Page.  By  G.  P.  R.  James,  authorof  "  Cavalier,'\..  1  75 
Mrs.  Emma  D.  E.  N.  Southworth's  Popular  Novels.   42  vols,  in  all,  73  50 

Mrs.  Ann  S.  Stephens'  Celebrated  Novels.  22  volumes  in  all, 38  50 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Warfield's  Works.     Nine  volumes  in  all, 15  75 

Miss  Eliza  A.  Dupuy's  Works.    Fourteen  volumes  in  all, 24  50 

Mrs.  Caroline  Lee  Hentz's  Novels.     Twelve  volumes  in  all, 21  00 

Frederika  Bremer's  Novels.     Six  volumes  in  all, 10  50 

T.  A.  TroUope's  Works.     Seven  volumes  in  all, 12  25 

James  A.  Maitland's  Novels.     Seven  volumes  in  all, 12  25 

Q.  K.  Philander  Doestick's  Novels.     Four  volumes  in  all, 7  03 

Cook  Books.     The  best  in  the  world.     Eleven  volumes  in  all, 19  25 

Mrs.  Henry  Wood's  Novels.     Seventeen  volumes  in  all, 29  75 

Emerson  Bennett's  Novels.     Seven  volumes  in  all, 12  25 

Green's  Works  on  Gambling.     Four  volumes  in  all, 7  0(1 

Above  books  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

The   following  hooha  are  each   issued   in  one  large  octavo  volume,  hound    in 
cloth,  at  $2.00  each,  or  each  one  is  done  tqi  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 

The  Wandering  Jew.     By  Eugene  Sue.     Full  of  Illustrations, $2  00 

Mysteries  of  Paris;  and  its  Sequel,  Gerolstein.     By  Eugene  Sue,....  2  00 

Martin,  the  Foundling.     By  Eugene  Sue.     Full  of  Illustrations, 2  00 

Ten  Thousand  a  Year.     By  Samuel  Warren.     With  Illustrations,....  2  00 

Washington  and  His  Generals.     By  George  Lippard.... 2  00 

The  Quaker  City;  or,  the  Monks  of  Monk  Hall.     By  George  Lippard,  2  00 

Blanche  of  Brandywino.     By  George  Lippard, 2  00 

Paul  Ardenheim  ;  the  Monk  of  Wissahickon.     By  George  .Lippard,.  2  00 

The  Pictorial  Tower  of  London.     By  W.  Harrison  Ainsworth, 2  50 

Above  books  are  each  in  cloth,  or  each  one  is  in  paper  cover,  at  $1.50  each. 


T/ie  following  are  each  issued  in  one  large  octavo  volume,  ho^md  in  cloth,  price  $2.00 
each,  or  a  cheap  edition  is  issued  in  paper  cooer,  at  75  cents  each. 

Charles  O'Malley,  the  Irish  Dragoon.    By  Charles  Lever, Cloth,  $2  00 

Harry  Lorrequer.    With  his  Confessions.    By  Charles  Lever,, ..Cloth,    2  00 

Jack  Hinton,  the  Guardsman.     By  Charles  Lever, Cloth,    2  00 

Daven])ort  Dunn.     A  Man  of  Our  Day.     By  Charles  Lever,. ..Cloth,    2  00 

Tom  Burke  of  Ours.     By  Charles  Lever Cloth,    2  00 

The  Knight  of  Gwynne.     By  Charles  Lever, Cloth,    2  00 

Arthur  O'Learv.     By  Charles  Lever, Cloth,    2  00 

Con  Cregan.     By  Charles  Lever, Cloth,    2  01} 

Horace  Templeton.     By  Charles  Lever, Cloth,    2  00 

Kate  O'Donoghue.     By  Charles  Lever, Cloth,    2  00 

Valentine  Vox,  the  Ventriloquist.     By  Harry  Cockton Cloth,    2  00 

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Banker's  Daughter.  Sequel  to  "Joseph  "Wilmot,"    By  Reynolds, 

Kenneth.      A  Romance  of  the  Highlands.      By  G.  W.  M.  Reynolds, 

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Dene  Hollow.  By  Mrs.  Henry  Wood,  author  of"  Within  the  Maze," 
Bessy  Rane.  By  Mrs,  Henry  Wood,  author  of  "  The  Channings,",... 
George  Canterbury's  Will.  By  Mrs.  Wood,  author  "Oswald  Cray," 
The  Channings.   By  Mrs.  Henry  Wood,  author  of  "  Dene  Hollow,"... 

Roland  Yorke.     A  Sequel  to  "'  The  Channings."    By  Mrs.  Wood, 

Shadow  of  Ashlydyatt.    Bj'  Mrs.  Wood,  author  of  "  Bessy  Rane," 

Lord  Oakburn's  Daughters;  or  The  Earl's  Heirs.  By  Mrs,  Wood,... 
Yerner's  Pride.  By  Mrs.  Henry  Wood,  author  of  "  The  Channings," 
The  Castle's  Heir;  or  Lady  Adelaide's  Oath.  By  Mrs.  Henry  Wood, 
Oswald  Cray.     By  Mrs.  Henry  Wood,  author  of  "Roland  Yorke,".... 

Squire  Trevlyn's  Heir;  or  Trevlyn  Hold.     By  Mrs.  Henry  Wood, 

The  Red  Court  Farm,  By  Mrs.  Wood,  author  of  "  Yerner's  Pride,"... 
Elster's  F0II3'.  By  Mrs.  Henry  Wood,  author  of"  Castle's  Heir,"... 
g*.  Martin's  Eve.  By  Mrs,  Henry  Wood,  author  of  "Dene  Hollow," 
Mildred  Arkell.  By  Mrs,  Henry  Wood,  author  of  "Ea.-t  Lynne,",... 
Cyrilla;  or  the   Mysterious  Engagement.    By  author  of  "Initials," 

The  Miser's  Daughter.       By  William  Harrison  Ainsworth,  

The  Mysteries  of  Florence.  By  Geo.  Lippard,  author  "  Quaker  City," 


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CHARLES  DICKENS'  WORKS. 

*^  GREAT    REDUCTION    IN    THEIR    PRICES. -=5^81 


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(- 


CHARLES    DICKENS'  WORKS. 

.Kg- GREAT    JREDaUTION  IN  THEIR  PRICES. 'S* 


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Rsdnced  in  price  from  $2.50  to  $].75  a  voluvie. 

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Old  Curiosity  Shop, Cloth, 

Christmas  Stories Cloth, 

Dickens'  New  Stories,. ..Cloth, 
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American  Nwtes  and 

Pic-Nic  Papers, Cloth, 


1.75 
1.75 
1.75 
1.75 
1.75 

1.75 


« 

« 

tt 

(I 

<t 

it 

« 


(I 
u 


Nicholas  Nickleby, Cloth,      1.75 

Great  Expectations, Cloth,      1.75 

Lamplighter's  Story,....Cloth,      1.75 

Oliver  Twist, Cloth,     1.75 

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Half  calf,  marbled  edges 54.00 

Half  calf,  antique,  or  Half  calf,  full  gilt  backs,...    60.00 

"NEW  NATIONAL  EDITION"  OF  DICKENS'  WORKS. 

This  is  the  cheapest  bound  edition  of  the  works  of  Charles  Dickens,  pub- 
lished, all  his  writings  being  contained  in  seven  large  octavo  volumes, 
with  a  portrait  of  Charles  Dickens,  and  other  illustrations. 

Price  of  a  set,  in  Black  cloth,  in  seven  volumes, $20.00 

Full  sheep,  Library  style, 25.00 

Half  calf,  antique,  or  Half  calf,  full  gilt  backs,...   30.0(1 

CHEAP  PAPER  COVER  EDITION  OF  DICKENS'  WORKS. 

Each  book  being  complete  in  one  large  octavo  volume. 

Pickwick  Papers, 50 

Nicholas  Nickleby, 50 

Dombey  and  Son, 50 

Our  Mutual  Friend, 50 

D^-vid  Copperfield, 50 

Martin  Chuzzlewit, 50 

Old  Curiosity  Shop, 50 

Oliver  Twist, 50 

American  Notes, 25 

Hard   Times, 25 

A  Tale  of  Two  Cities, 25 

Somebody's  Luggage, 25 

Mrs.  Lirriper's  Lodgings, 25 

Mrs.  Lirriper's  Legacy, 25 

Mugby  .Junction, 25 

Pr.  MarigoM's  Prescriptions,...  25 

Mystery  of  Eilwin  Drood, 25 

Message  from  the  Spa, 25 


Bleak  House, 51 

Little  Dorrit, 60 

Christmas  Stories, 50 

Barnaby  Rudge, 50 

Sketches  by  "  Boz," 50 

Great  Expectations, 50 

Joseph   Griiiialdi, 50 

The  Pic-Nic  Papers, 50 

The  Haunted  House, 25 

Uncommercial  Traveller, 25 

A  House  to  Let, 25 

Perils  of  English  Prisoners, 25 

Wreck  of  the  Golden  Mary, 25 

Tom  Tiddler's  (Ground, 25 

Dickens'  New  Stories, 25 

Laz}'  Tour  Idle  Apprentices, 25 

The  Holly-Tree  Inn, 25 

No  Thoroughfare, 25 

Hunted  Down  ;  and  Other  Reprinted  Pieces, 50 

THE  LIFE  AND  WRITINGS  OF  CHARLES  DICKENS. 
THE  LIFE   OF   CHARLES  DICKENS.      By   Dr.    R.   S'^elton  Mackenzie, 
containing  a  full  history  of   his  Life,  his  Uncollected    Pieo^>s,  in   Prose 
and  Verse  ;   Personal  Recollections   and   Anecdotes;    His  Last  Will   in 
full;    and  Letters    from    Mr.  Dickens   never    before  published.      Wi  jr 
a  Portrait  and  Autogiaph  of  Charles  Dickens.     Price  $2.00.  (Hj 


13    T.  B.  TETEESON  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS. 


ALEXANDER  DUMAS'  WORKS. 


Count  of  Montc-Cristo, $1 

EJuiond  Dantes, 

The  Three  Guardsmen, 

Twenty  Years  After, 

Bragelonne, 

The  Iron  .M.isk 1 

Louise  La  \'alliere, 1 

Diiina  of  Meridor 1 

Adventures  of  a  Marquis,  1 

Love  and  Liberty,  (1792-'93)..  1 

Cainille;  or,  The  Fate  of  a  Coque 

The  above  are  each  in  paper 

The  Mohicans  of  Paris, 

The  Horrors  of  Paris, 

The  Fallen  Angel, 

Felina  de  Chambure, 

Sketches  in  France, 

Lsabel  of  Bavaria, 

Twin  Lieutenants, 

Man  with  Five  Wives, 


50 
75 
75 
75 
75 
00 
00 
00 
00 
50 


Memoirs  of  a  Physician, $1  OQ 

Queen's  IS'ccklace, 1  00 

Six  Years  Later, 1   00 

Countess  of  Charny, 1   00 

Andree  de  Taverney, 1   00 

The  Chevalier, 1  00 

Forty-five  Gunrdsmen, 1  00 

The  Iron  Hand, 1   00 

The  Conscript, 1  60 

Countess  of  Monte-Cristo, 1   00 

tte,  (La  Dauie  Aux  Cameiias,) 1  50 

cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $L75  each. 

Annette  ;  or,  Lady  of  Pearls,...  75 

George  ;   or.  Isle  of  France, 50 

Madame  De  Chamblay 50 

The  Black  Tulip, 50 

The  Corsican  Brothers, 50 

The  Count  of  Moret,...  50 

The  Marriage  Verdict, 50 

Buried  Alive, 25 


75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 


GEORGE  W.  M.  REYNOLDS'  WORKS. 


Mysteries  Court -af  London,. ...$1  00 

Kose  Foster, 1  50 

Caroline  of  Brunswick, 1  00 

Venetia  Trelawney, 1  00 

Lord  Saxondale, 1  00 

Count  Christoral, 1  00 

Rosa  Lambert, 1  00 


Mary  Price, $1 

Eustace  Quentin, 1 

Joseph  Wilmot 1 

Banker's  Daughter, 1 

Kenneth, 1 

The  Rye-House  Plot, 1 

The  Necromancer, 1 

The  Gipsy  Chief, 1 


Wallace,  the  Hero  of  Scotland,.  1    00 

The  Mysteries  of  the  Court  of  Naples,  full  of  Illustrations 1 

Robert  Bruce,  the  Hpro-King  of  Scotland,  full  of  Illustrations, ] 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 


Mary  Stuart,  Queen  of  Scots,..       75 

The  Opera  Dancer, 75 

Child  of  Waterloo, 75 

Isabella  Vincent, 

Vivian  Bertram, 

Countess  of  Lascelles,, 
Duke  of  Marchmort,., 
Massacre  of  Glencoe,. 
Loves  of  the  Harem,., 
The  Soldier's  Wife,. 


75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
•75 


Ellen  Percy, 

Agnes  Evelyn, 

Pickwick  Abroad, 

Parricide, 

Discarded  Queen, 

Life  in  Paris, 

The  Countess  and  the  Paige,. 

Edgar  Montrose, 

The  Ruined  Gamester, 

Clifford  and  the  Actress, 


May   Middleton, 75 

Ciprina;  or,  the  Mysteries  and  Secrets  of  a  Picture  Gallery, 

MISS  PARDOE'S  POPULAR  WORKS. 

Confessions  of  a  PrettyWoman,       75     The  Rival  Beauties, 

The  Wife's  Trials, 75     Romance  of  the  Harem, 

The  Jealous  Wife, 50 

The  five  above  books  are  also  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth,  for  $4.00 

The  Adopted  Heir.     One  volume,  paper,  $1.50;  or  in  cloth, $1 

The  Earl's  Secret.    One  volume,  paper,  $1.50  ,•  or  in  cloth,  1 


00 
00 
00 
00 
(10 
00 
00 
00 
00 

ou 

75 
75 
75 
75 
75 
5l> 
50 
50 
50 
50 

iO 


75 
75 


75 


Above  books  will  be  sent,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  Retail  Price, 
by  T.  B.  Peterson  &  Brothers,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


T.  B.  PETEESOIT  &  BROTHERS'  PUBLICATIONS.    13 


CHARLES  LEVER'S  BEST  WORKS. 

Charles  O'Malley, 75 

Harry  Lorrcquer, 75 

Jack  Ilinton 75 

Tom  Burke  of  Ours, 75 

Ivnic^ht  of  Gwynne, 75 


Arthur  O'Leary, 75 

Con  Cregan, 75 

DaA^cnport  Dunn, 75 

Horace  Templeton, 75 

Kate  O'Donoghue, 75 

Above  are  in  paper  cover,  or  a  fine  edition  is  in  cloth  at  $2.UU  each. 

A  Bent  in  a  Cloud, 60  1  St,  Patrick's  Eve, 50 

Ten  Thousand  a  Year,  in  one  volume,  paper  cover,  $1.50;  or  in  cloth,  2  Otf 

The  Diary  of  a  Medical  Student,  by  author  "  Ten  Thousand  a  Year,"  76 

MRS.  HEITRY  WOOD'S  BEST  BOOKS. 

The  Shadow  of  Ashlydyat, $1  50 

Squire  Trevlyn's  Heir, 1  60 

Oswald  Cniy 1  60 

Mildred  Arkell, 1  50 

The  Red  Court  Farm, 1  60 

Elster's  Folly, 1  50 

Saint  Martin's  Eve, 1  60 

Roland  Yorke.     A  Sequel  to  "The  Channinj^s," 1  50 

l,ord  Oakburn's  Daughters  ;  or.  The  Earl's  Heirs, 1  60 

The  Castle's  Heir  ;  or.  Lady  Adelaide's  Oath, 1  60 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 


The  Master  of  Greylands, $1  50 

Within  the  Maze, 1  60 

Dene  Hollow, 1  50 

Bessy  Rane 1  60 

George  Canterbury's  Will, 1  50 

Vomer's  Pride, 1  50 

The  Channings, 1  50 


The  Mystery 75 

The  Lo'st  Bank  Note, 50 

The   Lost  Will, 50 

Orville  College, 50 

Five  Thousand  a  Y^ear,   25 

The  Diamond  Bracelet,  25 

Clara  Lake's  Dream,  25 

The  Nobleman's  Wife, 25 

Frances  Hildyarl, 2o 


A  Life's  Secret, 50 

The  Haunted  Tower, bif 

The  Runaway  Matcli, 2» 

Martyn  Ware's  Temptations, ..  2i 

The  Dean  of  Denham,..  25 

Foggy  Night  at  Offord, 23 

AVilliam  Allair 2/ 

A  Light  and  a  Dark  Christmas,  2a 

The  Smuggler's  Ghost, 25 


EUGJENE  SUE'S  GREAT  WORKS. 


First  Love, 

Woman's  Love, 

Fern  lie  Bluebeard,.., 
Man -of- War's- Man,. 


60 
60 
50 
60 
25 


The  Wandering  Jew, $1   50 

The  Mysteries  of  Paris, 1   50 

Martin,  the  Foundling 1  50 

Above  are  in  cloth  at  $2.U()  each. 
Life  and  Adventures  of  Raoul  de  Surville.     A  Tale  of  the  Empire,... 

CHARLES  J.  PETERSON'S  WORKS. 

The  Old  Stone  Mansion, $1  50  1  Kate  Aylesford, $1  50 

The  above  are  each  in  paper  cover,  or  in  cloth,  price  $1.75  each. 

Cruising  in  the  Last  War 75  I  Grace  Dudley;  or,  Arnold  at 

Valley  Farm, 25  1       Saratoga, 50 

WILLIAM  H.  MAXWELL'S  WORKS. 


Wild  Sports  of  the  West 75 

Stories  of  Waterloo, 75 


Brian  O'Lynn, T5 

Life  of  Grace  O'Malley, 50 


MISS    BRADDON'S    WORKS. 


Aurora  Floyd 75 

Aurora  Floyd,  cloth 1   00 


The  Lawyer's  Secret 25 

For  Better,  For  Worse, 75 


--<*•> 


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T.  B.  rETKRSON  &  BROTHERS,  Philadelphia,  are  the  American  publishers  ol 
tlie  popular  and  fast-celling  books  written  by  Mus.  Emma  D.  E.  N.  t'oiTinvoKTH, 
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Arthur,  Ueoroje  Lippard,  Hans  Breitmann  (Charles  G.  Leland),  .1/mes  A.  Mait- 
L\ND,  Charles  Dickens,  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Charles  Lea'er,  Wilkie  Collins, 
Mrs.  C.  J.  Newry,  Justus  Liebig,  W.  H.  Maxwell,  Alexander  Dumas,  Geokgr 
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km  S.  Stephens'  Complete  Works. 

23  VOLUMES,  AT  $1.75  EACH;  OR  $40.25  A  SET. 

T.  B.  PETERSON  <fc  BROTHERS,  No.  30G  Chestnnt  Street, 
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lowing are  the  names  of  the  volumes: 

NORSTON'S  REST. 
BERTHA'S  ENGAGEMENT. 
BELLEHOOD  AND  BONDAGE  >  or,  Bought  with  a  Price. 
LORD  HOPE'S  CHOICE;  ov,  More  Secrets  Than  One. 
THE  OLD  COUNTESS.     Sequel  to  "  Lord  Hope's  Choice." 
THE  REIGNING   BELLE. 
PALACES  AND  PRISONS;  or,  The  Prisoner  of  the  Bastile. 
A  NOBLE  WOMAN  ;  or,  A  Gulf  Between  Them. 
THE  CURSE  OF  GOLD  ;  or,  The  Bound  Girl  and  Wife's  Trials. 
MABEL'S  MISTAKE;  or,  The  Lost  Jewels. 
WIVES  AND  WIDOWS;  or,  The  Broken  Life. 
THE  OLD  HOMESTEAD;  or,  Pet  From  the  Poor  House, 
THE  REJECTED  WIFE;  or,  The  Ruling  Passion. 
THE  WIFE'S  SECRET;  or,  Gillian. 
THE  HEIRESS;  or,  The  Gipsy's  Legacy. 
THE  SOLDIER'S  ORPHANS. 
SILENT  STRUGGLES;  or,  Barbara  Stafford. 
RUBY  GRAY'S  STRATEGY;  or,  Married  by  Mistake. 
FASHION  AND  FAMINE. 
MARRIED  IN  HASTE. 
DOUBLY  FALSE;  or,  Alike  and  Not  Alike. 
THE  GOLD  BRICK. 
MARY  DERWENT. 

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T.   B.  PETERSON  &  IJROTIIERS, 

30G  Chestnut  Stkeet,  PniLADELrmA,  Pa. 


.  Carolm  Lee  Hem's  Works 


12  VOLUMES,  AT  $1.75  EACH;  OR  $21.00  A  SET- 


r.  B.  PETERSON  &  BEO TITERS,  No.  306  Chestnut  Street, 
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Every  Family  and  every  Library  in  this  country,  should  have  in  it  a 
complete  set  of  this  new  and  beautiful  edition  of  the  tvorks  of  3Irs, 
Caroline  Lee  Henfz.     The  following  is  a  complete  list  of 

MRS.  CAROLINE  LEE  HENTZ'S  WORKS. 

LINDA ;  OR,  THE  YOUNG  PILOT  OF  THE  BELLE  CREOLE,    With 
a  complete  Biography  of  Mrs.  Caroline  Lee  Hentz. 

ROBERT   GRAHAM.    A  Sequel  to  "Linda;  or,  The  Young  Pilot 

of  the  Belle  Creole." 

RENA;  or,  THE  SNOW  BIRD.    A  Tale  of  Real  Life. 

MARCUS  WARLAND ;  or,  The  Long  Moss  Spring. 

ERNEST  LINWOOD ;  or.  The  Inner  Life  of  the  Author, 

EOLINE;  or,  MAGNOLIA  VALE;  or.  The  Heiress  of  Glenraore. 

THE  PLANTER'S  NORTHERN  BRIDE;  or,  Scenes  in  Mrs.  Hentz'» 
Childhood. 

HELEN  AND  ARTHUR;  or,  Miss  Thusa's  Spinning  WTieeL 

COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE;   or,   The    Joys    and  Sorrows  of 
American  Life. 

LOVE  AFTER  MARRIAGE ;  and  other  Stories  of  the  Heart. 

THE  LOST  DAUGHTER;  and  other  Stories  of  the  Heart. 

THE  BANISHED  SON ;  and  other  Stories  of  the  Heart. 

J^t'  Above  Books  are  for  sale  by  all  Booksellers  at  $1.75  each,  9$ 
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-^-^ 

r.  B.  PETERSON  &  BROTIIEnS,  Philadelphia,  have  just  pub- 
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THE  PHANTOM  WEDDING;  or,  the  Fall  of  the  House  of  Flint. 
SELF-RAISED;  or.  From  the  Depths.  Sequel  to  "Ishmael." 
ISHMAEL;  or,  IN  THE   DEPTHS.     (Being  "  Selt-Made.") 
THE  "MOTHER-IN-LAW;"    or,    MARRIED  IN  HASTE. 
THE  MISSING  BRIDE;    or,    MIRIAM,  THE  AVENGER. 
VICTOR'S  TRIUMPH.     Sequel  to  "A  Beautiful  Fiend." 
A  BEAUTIFUL  FIEND;     or,  THROUGH  THE  FIRE. 
LADY  OF  THE  ISLE;    or,   THE   ISLAND    PRINCESS. 
FAIR  PLAY;    or,   BRITOMARTE,    THE  MAN-HATER. 
HOW  HE  WON  HER.     A  Sequel  to  "  Fair  Play." 
THE  CHANGED  BRIDES;  or,  Winning  Her  Way. 
THE  BRIDE  S  FATE.   Sequel  to  "The  Changed  Brides." 
CRUEL  AS  THE  GRAVE;    or,  Hallow  Eve  Mystery. 
TRIED  FOR  HER  LIFE.     A  Sequel  to  "Cruel  as  the  Grave." 
THE  CHRISTMAS  GUEST;  or,  The  Crime  and  the  Curse. 
THE  BRIDE  OF  LLEWELLYN. 
THE  LOST  HEIR  OF  LINLITHGOW;    or,  The  Brothers. 
A  NOBLE  LORD.     Sequel  to  "  Lost  Heir  of  Linlithgow." 
THE  FAMILY  DOOM;  or,    THE  SIN  OF  A  COUNTESS. 
THE  MAIDEN  WIDOW.      Sequel  to  "  Family  Doom." 
THE  GIPSY'S  PROPHECY;  or,  The  Bride  of  an  Evening, 
THE  FORTUNE  SEEKER;   or,  Astrea.  The  Bridal  Day. 
THE  THREE  BEAUTIES  ;  or,  SHANNONDALE. 
ALLWORTH  ABBEY;   or,   EUDORA. 
FALLEN  PRIDE;  or,  THE    MOUNTAIN  GIRL'S  LOVE. 
INDIA;    or,  THE  PEARL   OF  PEARL  RIVER. 
VIVIA;    or,  THE  SECRET  OF  POWER. 
THE   BRIDAL    EVE  ;    or,    ROSE    ELMER. 
THE  DISCARDED  DAUGHTER;    or.  The  Children  of  the  Isle. 
THE  PRINCE  OF  DARKNESS;    or,  HICKORY  HALL. 
THE   TWO   SISTERS;    or,    Virginia   and   Magdalene. 
THE   FATAL   MARRIAGE;    or,    ORVILLE    DEVILLE. 
THE   WIDOW'S   SON:    or,    LEFT    ALONE. 
THE   MYSTERY    OF    DARK    HOLLOW. 
THE  DESERTED  WIFE.  THE  WIFE'S  VICTORY. 

THE  LOST  HEIRESS.  THE  ARTIST'S  LOVE. 

THE  HAUNTED   HOMESTEAD.     LOVE'S  LABOR  WON. 
THE  SPECTRE  LOVER.  CURSE  OF  CLIFTON. 

THE  FATAL  SECRET.  RETRIBUTION. 

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THE  SHADOW  OP  HAMPTON  MEAD. 

A    OHAEMIK"G    STOET. 
BY  MRS.  ELIZABETH  VAN  LOON. 

Autlior  of   <*A  Heart  Twice  Won." 


"  The  Shadow  of  Hamptox  Mead,"  essentially  an  American  story, 
though  a  part  of  the  action  takes  place  in  England,  is  a  production 
which,  in  some  degree,  belongs  to  the  class  of  romantic  fiction,  blending 
incidents  and  character,  which  Mrs.  Radclilfe  had  made  very  popular 
before  "  the  Great  Unknown  "  came  into  the  field  as  a  novelist.  Hampton 
Mead,  a  plantation  in  North  Carolina,  is  described  with  a  great  deal  of 
personal  liking  and  pride,  its  principal  features  being  placed  before  the 
reader  with  a  painter's  skill  and  a  poet's  feeling.  Such,  indeed,  was  to  be 
expected  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Van  Loon,  who  had  shown  in 
a  previous  and  very  popular  work,  how  well  she  could  place  the  scenery 
which  she  loved,  because  she  was  familiar  with  it  from  her  youth,  before 
admiring  readers.  "A  Heart  Twice  Won,"  her  former  work,  was  very 
successful,  though  her  first  plunge  into  authorship,  because  of  its  unhack- 
neyed freshness.  In  "  The  Shadow  of  Hampton  Mead  "  she  takes  a 
bolder  and  a  higher  flight.  It  is  the  story  of  three  families,  two  of  which 
are  American,  and  tlie  varying  fortunes  of  each  and  all  of  these  are 
related  with  a  force  and  freshness  which  may  startle,  but  must  please. 
The  story  opens  in  this  country,  (its  author  writes  at  her  best  when  her 
foot  is  on  her  native  soil,  with  shadows  from  its  beloved  mountains  making 
the  valleys  shady  but  not  gloomy),  and  when  well  developed,  is  trans- 
ferred to  England,  where,  in  full  contrast,  life-passages  and  love-passages 
are  presented — not  in  London  alone,  but  in  an  Earl's  palatial  home  in 
Lancashire,  and  in  an  ocean-washed  castle  on  the  rocky  coast  of  Corn- 
wall. There  is  infinite  variety  in  the  plot  as  well  as  in  the  characters, 
and  the  wind-up  of  this  romantic  tale,  in  which  "  the  wrong  is  made 
right,"  dispenses  poetical  justice  to  all,  with  retributive  punishment  to 
the  wrong-doers.    Bound  in  morocco  cloth,  black  and  gold.    Price  $1,50. 

A  HEART  TWICE  WON;  or,  SECOND  LOVE.  By  Elizabeth  Van  Loon, 
author  of  "  The  Shadow  of  Hampton  Mead."  Complete  in  one  lai-ge 
duodecimo  volume,  morocco  cloth,  black  and  gold.     Price  $1.50. 


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UNDER  THE  WILLOWS 

OR, 

THE  THEEE  COMTESSES. 

BY  MRS.  ELIZABETH  VAN  LOON. 

Author  of  "A  Heart  Twice  Wou,"  and  of 
"The  Shadow  of  Hampton  Mead." 


"Under  the  Willows,"  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Van  Loon,  author  of 
"A  Heart  Twice  Won,"  and  "  The  Shadow  of  Hampton  Mead,"  undoubt- 
edly shows  that  to  compose  an  original  and  striking  work  of  prose  fiction 
is  not  among  ''the  lost  arts,"  about  which  a  great  orator  used  eloquently 
to  discourse  some  years  ago.  Most  of  the  characters  are  American,  but 
the  action  shifts  from  the  New  World  to  the  Old — from  this  country  to 
Europe,  France,  and  Italy.  This  is  a  strange  mixture  of  reality  and 
romance.  Characters  the  most  contrasted  are  brought  together  in  the 
strangest  and  the  most  uuexpected  combinations.  Incidents  the  most 
startling  are  adroitly  narrated  with  so  much  vraisemblance  that  the  reader 
will  be  puzzled  how  to  take  them;  yet  the  improbable  eventually  turns 
out  to  be  the  truth,  and  what  might  be  anticipated  from  their  results  does 
not  occur.  In  these  da_vs,  when  society  novels,  historical  novels,  profes- 
sional novels,  literary  novels,  tourist  novels,  and  sensational  novels  are 
very  numerous,  it  is  well,  if  only  by  way  of  relief,  to  have  a  story  in  which 
the  writer,  following  the  aboriginal  example,  so  carefully  "covers  up  her 
tracks,"  almost  from  the  very  first  chapter,  that  the  ingenuity  of  even 
practised  readers  is  kept  on  the  qui  vive  until  the  wholly  uuexpected  wind- 
ing up.  "Under  the  Willows"  is  a  romance  of  unbroken  interest,  in 
which  the  wild  and  wonderful  are  more  largely  develoj)ed  than  in  most 
compositions  of  its  class.  In  this  respect  it  eclijjses  "A  Heart  Twice 
Won,"  and  "  The  Shadow  of  Hampton  Mead,"  preceding  and  popular 
works  from  the  same  pen. 

OTHER  NEW  BOOKS  BY  SAME  AUTHOR. 

A   HEART   TWICE   WON;   or,    SECOND    LOVE.     By   the   author  of 
"  Under  the  Willows,"  and  "  The  Shadow  of  Hampton  Mead."      One 
large  duodecimo  volume,  morocco  cloth,  black  and  gold.    Price  $1.50. 

THE  SHADOW  OF  HAMPTON  MEAD.  A  Story  of  Three  Families.  By 
the  author  of  "A  Heart  Twice  Won,"  and  "  Under  the  Willows."  One 
large  duodecimo  volume,  morocco  cloth,  black  and  gold.     Price  $1.50. 


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copies  of  either,  or  all  of  them,  will  be  sent  to  any  one,  to  any  place,  at 
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30G  Cliestnut  Street,  Pliiladelpliia,  Pa. 


A  HEART  TWICE  WON; 

OR, 

SECOND    JLhOIlTE;- 

A   CHARMING    STORY. 
BY   MRS,   ELIZABETH  VAN  LOON. 


"A  HEAET  TWICE  WON;  or,  SECOND  LOVE."  By  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Van  Loon.  The  present  might  be  correctly  described  as 
the  period  of  romantic  fiction.  It  seems  as  if  a  new  novel  were  published 
almost  every  day.  The  merit  of  these  varies,  of  course,  but  their  general 
execution  is  good.  Now  and  then  a  new  writer  appears  to  take  the  read- 
ing world  by  storm.  In  this  category  may  be  placed  the  author  of 
"A  Heart  Twice  Won"  (a  capital  title),  in  which  the  mystery  of  the 
plot  is  at  once  veiled  and  half  revealed.  A  most  experienced  critic,  who 
has  probably  read  two-thirds  of  the  novels  of  the  last  forty  years,  says, 
"'A  Heart  Twice  Won'  viust  be  a  brilliant  success.  That  it  is  by  a 
new  writer,  is  very  evident;  it  is  equally  obvious,  from  the  delicacy  and 
force  with  which  the  plot  has  been  framed  and  worked  out  to  a  legitimate 
conclusion,  as  well  as  from  the  development  of  the  respective  characters, 
that  a  young  lady  is  the  author.  It  is  pure  as  well  as  passionate.  More- 
over, the  incidents,  sometimes  startling,  are  all  within  the  legitimate 
limit  of  probability.  The  scene,  alternately  in  Virginia  and  in  Europe,  is 
always  accurately  realistic — whether  the  action  takes  place  on  a  Southern 
estate,  or  amid  fashionable  society  in  London,  or  (still  more  difficult  to 
depict)  in  an  Earl's  ancestral  castle  in  rural  England.  Nothing  can 
exceed  the  easy  grace,  and  truth  of  the  last.  The  dialogue  is  at  once  nat- 
ural and  expressive;  and,  above  all,  this  is,  most  intensely,  a  thorough 
love  tale."  This  opinion,  though  not  written  for  publication,  accurately 
characterizes  "A  Heart  Twice  W^on." 


Bound  in  Morocco  Cloth,  Gilt  and  Black,  Price  $1.50. 


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